A comprehensive eye exam is the most effective way to evaluate the eye’s structure and function. It allows your doctor to identify any eye disease and determine if treatment can help prevent or reverse vision loss. A thorough eye exam can also identify diseases which affect your overall health, such as diabetes and hypertension. Some portions of the exam include:

Visual Acuity Test: The sharpness of your vision in each eye is measured by reading letters on a chart located at a standard distance (usually 20 feet). This test identifies how clearly you are seeing with your current eyeglasses or contact lenses (if you wear them). Refractive errors, such as myopia (or near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), astigmatism, and presbyopia are some examples of focusing issues that can blur your vision, but are typically correctable with the appropriate eyeglasses or contact lenses. Cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration are some common eye diseases that can also reduce your visual acuity, and are often reversible (or preventable) with treatment.

Visual Field Test: Your peripheral vision is tested by determining how well you can see things off to the side, while looking straight ahead. Glaucoma and other optic nerve diseases, as well as some neurological (brain) disorders, can reduce your peripheral vision.

Pupil Test: The size of your pupils and their reaction to light are useful in identifying optic nerve disorders or serious neurological (brain-related) problems. High blood pressure or diabetes, glaucoma, stroke, and brain aneurysms are some diseases that can affect your pupils.

Eye (or Intraocular) Pressure Test: The pressure inside your eyes are measured by a small probe, called a tonometer, that gently touches the surface of the eye. Since anesthetic eyedrops are used to numb the eyes beforehand, this is a painless test. This method is more accurate than the “air puff” test that some offices use. The eye pressure is important to measure in order to determine the risk of glaucoma, as well as to manage those who have been diagnosed with glaucoma.

Slit Lamp Microscopy: A slit lamp microscope uses a slit beam of light to examine the major structures of your eyes under high magnification, including the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea, iris, lens, retina, vitreous and optic nerves.

Dilated (Retinal) Exam: In order to perform a complete comprehensive eye exam, the pupils are dilated with eyedrops to allow for a better view of the retina, optic nerves, and lens. This is an important part of the exam since it can confirm the presence of serious eye diseases, such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. It usually takes about 20-30 minutes for the pupils to dilate and the effect typically wears off after 3 to 4 hours. While your pupils are dilated, you may be sensitive to bright lights and your vision may be temporarily blurry, especially up close. Because of this, we recommend that you arrange for someone else to drive you home after the exam.