What Optometrists Look for During Regular Eye Exams

Regular eye exams are essential to maintain long-term eye health. During comprehensive exams, doctors examine the eyes and check the patient’s vision to determine if it needs correction. They conduct tests to check for eye diseases. 

Eye specialists use equipment and techniques to examine the inner eye structure, assessing eye health. They also use the exams to evaluate the individual’s overall health. Find out what optometrists look for during regular eye exams. 

Scheduling Regular Eye Exams 

Optometrists and ophthalmologists are eye doctors who care for individuals’ eyes. They perform tests, diagnose, and treat eye diseases. Where necessary, they perform surgery to correct eye conditions. Regular eye exams help to ensure patients maintain good eye health. 

The frequency of eye exams depends on various factors, including the patient’s age, family history, and eye condition. Individuals with existing eye issues require more frequent exams than those with healthy eyes. Your eye doctor will determine how often you should get eye exams. 

What Optometrists Look for 

Regular comprehensive eye exams help to provide information about the individual’s vision and eye health. Optometrists look for various things during eye exams, including early signs of eye diseases. They begin by discussing the patient’s family and medical history before conducting multiple tests. 

Shining a light on the pupil helps to test the dilation. They also check eye movement, teaming, and focus. They also use eye drops to dilate the pupils, which helps with inner eye examination.

What Can Eye Exams Detect

Comprehensive eye exams look for various eye conditions and disorders, including the following:

• Refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia 

• Vision changes, such as low vision

• Problems with eye muscles, which can cause amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eyes)

• Signs of eye diseases, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, or detached retina

• Intraocular cancer (Eye tumors or cancers include retinoblastoma and melanoma)

The optometrist may also check for disorders and health problems that may not be vision related. They can detect conditions such as diabetes, arterial disease, high blood pressure, and autoimmune disorders. 

Tests During Regular Eye Exams

Optometrists examine the eyes, as well as the blood vessels and muscles surrounding the eyes. Tests conducted during eye exams include:

• Visual acuity

• Visual field test

• Automatic refraction

• Corneal topography

• Color vision test

• Slit-lamp exam

• Ophthalmoscopy

• Tonometry

Eye doctors also use imaging tests to check the eye structures. Fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) help to examine the optic nerve and retina. The tests can detect corneal and optic nerve conditions. 

What to Expect After an Eye Exam

If the doctor dilated your eyes during the exam, you can expect to experience blurriness for several hours. Your eyes may also be more sensitive to light. Avoid reading, driving, or computer use immediately after the dilated eye exam. 

Wearing sunglasses helps protect the eyes before the pupils return to normal. The results of the exam will determine whether you require further attention. If you need vision correction, you will receive a lens prescription. 

Regular eye exams help to ensure you enjoy good vision and maintain your eye health. The optometrist may recommend additional tests or schedule a follow-up appointment. 

For more on what optometrists look for during regular eye exams, visit Battle Born Eye Care. Our office is in Reno, Nevada. Call (775) 360-6446 to book an appointment today.