What to Expect When You’re Expecting an Eye Exam
As things continue to open up and return to “normal” (whatever that means these days) you might be thinking now is a good time to catch up on all those appointments you’ve been putting off. If you’re in need of an eye exam, and maybe it’s been awhile, here are a few things to know before you go (scroll to the end for an eye exam checklist).
Whether you are a new patient or a returning patient, you will likely be asked some questions about your general health and medications. It is important to share with your optometrist any health conditions and medications, as they may affect your eye health and vision. For example, diabetes can cause ocular complications and some medications can cause ocular side effects that require ongoing monitoring. Your optometrist can also see changes in your eyes that may prompt further investigation by your family doctor. You will also be asked about your eye health history and family history, both of which are important to ensure your optometrist can provide you with the best care and manage any hereditary risk factors. You may be asked these questions by the technician prior to your exam or by the optometrist.
Before you go in to see the optometrist you will be asked whether you wear any glasses or contact lenses. The technician might ask to see your glasses to measure the prescription, this helps the optometrist make recommendations and tells them how much your prescription might have changed. The technician will do some preliminary testing with you prior to going into the exam room. This might include taking a picture of your eyes, a scan of the retina, a baseline prescription, and the dreaded air puff test to check eye pressure. All this information is valuable to the optometrist as it provides a more detailed look at your eye health and a starting point for your glasses prescription.
Once you’re in the exam room, the optometrist may ask a few questions before starting the exam. The exam consists of checking your vision with the letter chart, checking muscle alignment, determining your prescription, and assessing the health of the front and back of your eyes. You may have drops put in your eyes to double check the pressures of your eyes or to allow your optometrist a better look at the back of your eye. It is a good idea to bring a pair of sunglasses or a driver with you as the drops may make you light sensitive.
The last part of an eye exam is quite possibly the best bit. This is where you get to take your prescription and pick out a new pair of glasses. And if you don’t have a prescription, you might want to look into a new pair of sunglasses. The optician or frame stylist will be able to help you pick out a frame that fits you properly and make lens recommendations to have you looking and seeing your best.
Regular eye exams are a key part of your overall health, and reveal much more than just your glasses prescription. So if you’ve been putting it off, hopefully this makes you feel a little more prepared for your next visit to the optometrist.
Eye exam checklist:
Health card
Insurance information
Medication list
All glasses being used, whether they are prescription or not
Contact lens information
Sunglasses or a driver in case of dilation
