A full eye exam by an ophthalmologist at least one to two years is an essential part of keeping your eyes healthy and caring for your general health. The exam consists of a series of checkups to examine your eyesight and check for eye problems.

 

The goal is to assess various aspects of your eyesight and eye health and diagnose eye problems early when they are most curable.

 

What Can You Expect During a Full Eye Exam?

A full eye exam will most likely include the following components and tests.

 

Your Health History

If you are undergoing your first full eye exam, you can expect questions about your eyesight and general medical history. Your eye doctor will want to know if you are currently having any issues with your vision or if you are on medication for other health issues.

Your Family’s Health History

Here, your ophthalmologist will ask about any eye conditions or health issues your family members are experiencing or have had in the past.

 

Visual Acuity Test

After evaluating your medical background, your eye doctor will perform visual acuity tests to gauge how good your eyesight is. As part of the exam, you will read alphabets on reading charts up close and at a distance.

Refraction Test

A refraction test examines how light rays bend as they pass through your eyes. If the light rays do not bend and fall perfectly at the back of your eye, you have a refractive problem.

 

Eye Pressure Test

Your ophthalmologist will dilate your eyes to check the inner structure of your eyes and measure the pressure inside the eyes. In addition to that, the test can reveal symptoms of eye diseases or symptoms of other general health issues.

Eye Muscle Test

This checkup examines the muscles that regulate your eye movement. Your ophthalmologist watches as your eyes follow a small moving light or pencil. He or she checks for any weakness in your muscles or poor eye coordination.

Colorblindness Test

You could be colorblind without knowing it. Your eye doctor will show you multicolored patterns to screen your eyes for colorblindness.

 

Slit-lamp Test

This test examines your eyelashes, eyelids, cornea, lens, and iris to check for any damaged tissue on the surface of your eye.

Retinal Assessment

A retinal assessment also goes by the name ophthalmoscopy. It examines the back of your eye, including the retina, to check for any issues with your retinal blood vessels and structures.

Glaucoma Screening

Your eye doctor will perform tonometry. This test measures the pressure of the fluid inside your eye (intraocular pressure) to check for glaucoma. Glaucoma is a severe illness that ruins the optic nerve and causes gradual vision loss.

Supplementary Tests

Depending on the outcomes of the tests mentioned above, your ophthalmologist may recommend additional tests. These tests will help rule out or diagnose possible eye complications, clarify uncertain findings, or give a more detailed assessment.

For more on what a full eye exam includes, contact Clarity Vision in Smithfield, North Carolina, at (919) 737-7200 to schedule an appointment.