Comprehensive Eye Examination
A comprehensive eye exam will help evaluation not only how well you see, but also any potential eye diseases. Some eye conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration can result in serious vision loss if not detected and treated early. Many patients with early stages of these diseases do not experience any visual symptoms.
People over the age of 35 should have a comprehensive eye examination every 2 years. Patients over 65 or those people with a family history of glaucoma, diabetes, or diabetic eye changes should have a yearly exam.
What to expect at your eye examination:
The doctor will most likely dilate your pupils in order to see the retina at the back of your eye. You may want to consider making transportation arrangements, as your vision may be blurry for a few hours after dilation.
Your Exam May Include:
Visual acuity or refraction test will be performed to determine the degree to which you may be nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism. You may also have a testing of muscle function, binocular vision skills, visual field testing, eye pressure, slit lamp examination of the eye, and ophthalmoscopic examination to evaluate your optic nerves, blood vessels, and retina.
Treatment options will be presented at the conclusion of your exam.