Many people take their eyes for granted until it is too late. Others only go for an eye exam when they feel something is wrong with their eyesight. According to optometrists, you should go for an eye exam at least once every two to three years to ensure your eyes are healthy and working correctly. During an eye exam, an optometrist performs a few critical tests to test different aspects of your vision. Read on for insight into the tests your optometrist might perform during your next eye exam.
Pre-exam Test — Many people think that eye examination only starts when they sit across an optometrist. However, this is not always the case since eye exams start before you even walk into an optometrist's office. Typically, a pre-exam eye test is conducted first by an optometrist technician. Three procedures considered part of the pre-exam eye test include visual acuity and refraction, colour sensitivity and cover tests. Besides, an autorefractor is usually part of the pre-exam test and lets an optometrist technician accurately measure a patient's vision prescription. The generated report gives an optometrist a rough understanding of your vision needs.
Slit Lamp Test — After the pre-exam test, you are ushered to an optometrist's office and prepared for the slit lamp test. Notably, the eye specialist uses a binocular microscope during the test, which gives them a three-dimensional view of the eye. When you sit on an examination chair, an optometrist shines a beam of light from the binocular microscope at an angle to help accentuate the eye's anatomical structure. The binocular microscope used in slit lamp tests has greater magnification and illumination than most handheld devices. It allows an optometrist to examine the eyes more closely to assess the cornea, iris and lens for abnormalities and make an accurate diagnosis regarding your ability to see.
Pupil Dilation Test — This test is usually the last part of an eye exam, and it involves an optometrist dilating the eyes. Pupil dilation allows the specialist to inspect the retina and optic nerve comprehensively. First, an optometrist fills the eyes with special eye drops that enlarge the pupils. Eye drops are essential since dilated pupils allow more light into the eye, giving the physician a better view of their condition. However, you should understand that a pupil dilation test makes the eyes slightly sensitive. Therefore, you should avoid bright lights immediately after the test.
