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the exam

Comprehensive Family Eye Exams for clear vision and healthy eyes is essential.  Our local Doctors Vision Center doctors pride themselves on the thoroughness of their eye examinations.  We will guide you through each step of the exam and explain each procedure.

Many people rank vision as their most important sense, yet many people have never had an eye exam.  If you’ve never had an eye exam, or it has been a long time, the information below will give you an idea of what to expect.

Medical History

Your doctor will ask for information about your vision, the medications you take, your personal health history, and your family’s health history. For example, a history of diabetes, glaucoma or hypertension.

Eye Tests

Visual System 

Your eye doctor will perform a number of tests on the internal and external parts of your eyes using several different medical instruments. The purpose is to examine the muscles, eyelashes, eyelids, sclera, conjunctiva, cornea, iris, pupils, lens, retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels. 

The doctor will perform a fundus evaluation, which examines the interior of the eye, specifically the retina. Your eye doctor will most likely dilate your eyes at this stage. When your eyes are dilated, your pupils enlarge, making the retina and internal structures easier to examine. This internal examination can detect vision conditions like cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma, as well as diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders.

Refractive Exam 

This part of the eye exam consists of tests to determine your ability to see clearly at distance and adjust focus for near. You will be asked to read an eye chart at a distance with each eye and are often asked questions (Which is better one or two?) that help to refine your prescription.
Disposition 

At the end of the comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor will make a final diagnosis and determine your treatment plan. The diagnosis will include the status of your vision, your prescription, and a discussion of any eye health conditions discovered. Eyeglasses, contact lenses or a referral of refractive surgery or other interventions will be made at this time.

Other eye examination procedures may include:

Eye muscle test
This test examines the muscles that control eye movement, looking for weakness or poor control. Your eye doctor looks at your eyes as you move them in six specific directions and as you visually track a moving object, such as a pen or a light.
Visual acuity test
This test measures how clearly you can see from a distance. Your doctor will ask you to identify different letters of the alphabet printed on an electronic chart (Snellen chart) that emulates a distance of 20 feet.
Refraction assessment
Refraction refers to how lightwaves are bent as they pass through your cornea and lens. A refraction assessment helps your doctor determine a corrective lens prescription that will give you the sharpest vision. There are many variations to a refractive assessment and your doctor will perform what is necessary. If you don’t need corrective lenses, you won’t have a refraction assessment.
Visual field test (perimetry)
Your visual field is the area in front of you that you can see without moving your eyes. The visual field test determines whether you have difficulty seeing in any areas of your peripheral vision — the areas on the side of your visual field. There are a various types of visual field tests that may be performed.
Color vision testing
You could have poor color vision and not even realize it. If you have difficulty distinguishing certain colors, your eye doctor may screen your vision for a color deficiency.
Slit-lamp examination
A slit lamp is a microscope that enlarges and illuminates the front of your eye with an intense line of light. Your doctor uses this light to examine the cornea, iris, lens and anterior chamber of your eye. When examining your cornea, your doctor may use eyedrops containing fluorescein (flooh-RES-ene) dye.
Retinal examination
A retinal examination — sometimes called ophthalmoscopy or fundoscopy — examines the back of your eye, including your retina, optic disk and the underlying layer of blood vessels that nourish the retina (choroid). Usually before your doctor can see these structures, your pupils must be dilated with special eyedrops.
Glaucoma test
A glaucoma test (tonometry) measures your intraocular pressure — the pressure inside your eyes. It helps your eye doctor detect glaucoma, a disease that causes pressure to build up inside your eyes and can lead to blindness. Glaucoma can be treated most effectively if it’s caught early. Besides these basic evaluations, you may need more specialized tests, depending on your age, medical history and risk of developing eye disease.