What to Expect During an Eye Exam

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Autorefractor and Keratometer

An autorefractor is a quick test that gives an estimate of the eyeglass prescription.  It is helpful as a starting point that will then be fine tuned. A keratometer measures the curvatures of the cornea.  This is helpful in detecting various corneal diseases as well as determining which contact lens would fit the patient the best and improve overall comfortability.

Slit-lamp exam

A slit lamp is a binocular microscope (or biomicroscope) used to examine the structures of the eye under high magnification, including eyelids, cornea, conjunctiva, iris, and lens. With the help of a hand-held lens, the doctor may also use the slit lamp to examine structures located farther back in the eye, such as the retina and optic nerve.

The slit lamp exam can be used to detect a wide range of eye conditions and diseases, including cataracts, macular degeneration, corneal ulcers, and diabetic retinopathy, etc.
 

The Glaucoma Test

Similar to blood pressure, ocular pressure is most often asymptomatic.  Most people remember (and fear) the dreadful puff of air to check intraocular pressure.  We will NEVER use that outdated test.  Our top of the line tonometer is completely painless so NO AIR PUFF!

Visual Field Test

This test checks for the possible presence of blind spots (scotomas) in the peripheral (side) vision by performing a visual field test. These blind spots can originate from eye diseases like glaucoma or may help identify specific areas of brain damage caused by a stroke or tumor.

 

Dilation versus Optomap

Dilation involves putting eyedrops in to enlarge the pupil so we can check the health of the retina in the back of the eye.  Typically, most patients can drive home and side effect of light sensitivity and mild blurred vision last anywhere from 3-6 hours

Optomap is encouraged on all patients and provides an ultrawide field photograph of the retina WITHOUT DILATION. As an added bonus, we get to monitor any changes in appearance and compare year after year.

How long will the appointment take?

A comprehensive eye exam can take 1 hour or longer, depending on the number and complexity of tests required to fully evaluate vision and the eyes health.
 

Can I drive after my eyes are dilated?

Many patients are able to drive themselves after having their eyes dilated, but it is important to remember that eyes will be sensitive to light and vision may be blurry and you should wear sunglasses after your exam. With Optomap, we can avoid dilation all together by using Optomap for retinal imaging.