Parts of an Eye Exam: The Ins and Outs
It’s true: educating yourself on the different parts of an eye exam can prove to be helpful for several reasons. First of all, going to the optometrist can be daunting – if you’re unsure of what you’re exactly getting into. But once you are familiar with the process, you’ll quickly learn that you have nothing to worry about. So, you might need glasses. Who doesn’t? Sit back, relax, and put your eyes to the test. Don’t worry, it’s not like we’re going to make you read from that old Snellen chart… Or will we?
What Do You See?
Feeling nervous? Though it’s easier said than done, when it comes to getting your eyes checked, you have nothing to worry about. Remember, you’re dealing with a professional. The eye exam process is easy. To show you just how easy it is, we’ve outlined the various tests you can expect:
- Visual field or a computerized evaluation of your peripheral vision.
- Retinoscopy and autorefraction to help gauge what your eyeglasses needs are without involving your response.
- Refraction test with a phoropter which digs deeper to determine your precise needs.
- A cover test to check how your eyes work together.
- The slit lamp test to examine the health of your eyes.
- Tonometry to measure internal eye pressure, used to assess risk for glaucoma.
- An exam of the retina which may include a retina scan and dilated examination.
And then, if you’re good, you might just get a lollipop. We’re kidding, of course (though you’re getting your eyes tested, not your teeth).
Healthy Eyes
All joking aside, eye health evaluation is extremely important. In all reality, you only get one set of eyes in a lifetime – it’s imperative to take care of them. So, if you haven’t been examined in a while, make an appointment as soon as possible. There’s no shame in needing glasses – there’s only shame in not properly taking care of yourself. And a thorough eye exam can detect an underlying condition that puts your eyesight at risk. So, when your doctor is performing a refraction test to determine your exact eyeglass prescription, or when he or she studies the movement of your eyes (i.e. an ocular motility test), know that your eye health evaluation is going perfectly well.
What’s Your Vision?
Now that you’re a little more familiar with the eye exam process, do you feel better about it? Take a deep breath, because you’ve got nothing to worry about. Find out exactly what your vision is, and whether or not you need glasses; you now have the peace of mind knowing your eyes are free of sight-threatening eye disease.
EyeLux Optometry. Quality services. For your eyes only.
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