Maintaining your vision is an important goal of scheduled eye exams. To prevent issues and problems from developing, make regular appointments with an ophthalmologist. Learn what to expect at an optical examination for this simple and basic preventative health measure.
Learning Your History
The physician will spend a few minutes learning your history and assessing any symptoms you may be experiencing. Expect questions about your general health, medications you take, and problems you may be having. For example, if you have headaches, tell the doctor. The physician will also ask about how you use your eyes, including the type of work you perform, how much time you spend on a computer or reading books, whether you engage in sports, and whether you have hobbies that might contribute to eye strain. If you have been having issues concern you, mention them to the professional. Make sure you know how long you have been having specific symptoms so you can give these details to the ophthalmologist.
Optical Examination
The physician will examine your eyes from the inside and the outside to determine whether any health issues are present. An ophthalmoscope will allow the doctor to see into the interior of your eyes. The physician will also check the reflexes of your pupils. Checking your eye movement and coordination is necessary to ensure that muscles work and move together. Strong and balanced optical muscles are important for close-up work. You may also receive a glaucoma test or other special diagnostic procedures, depending on your age, symptoms, or other health issues present. If you wear contact lenses, doctors perform special tests to enable proper fitting and checking of contact lens wearers.
Vision Testing
Testing your vision is an important component of the optical exam. If you wear contacts or glasses, you will be asked to perform these tests both with and without vision correction to enable the doctor to test your sight. Expect assessments of distance, near, and intermediate vision. If any problems arise, the ophthalmologist will conduct further testing to determine the degree of the issues. The final step will involve correcting your vision with various lenses to determine which ones provide the correct improvement.
New Prescriptions
If your vision has changed and you need corrective lenses, you will be given a prescription for glasses or contact lenses. This prescription may be an update to a previous one, or it could be a brand new one if you’ve never needed help with your sight before. Choosing contacts involves determining which brand has the features that fit your eyes and your lifestyle. Many doctors give patients free trial lenses to ensure that they like the brand before making a purchase. Choosing glasses involves trying on various frames until you find a pair that you like and that fits your budget.
Once you order your corrective lenses, whether contacts or glasses, it’s likely that you will need to wait a week or two until they arrive at the doctor’s office.
Regular optical exams will keep your vision healthy and will ensure that you continue to see the world correctly.