Getting an eye exam is not just for checking the vision. Eye exams also examine eye health and screen for common diseases and conditions. Getting regular eye exams helps patients maintain their eye health and get proper vision correction as their vision changes. The following are some things to expect from an Eye Exam in Derby KS.
The Eye Chart
The classic eye chart is always part of a standard eye exam. Patients are asked to read increasingly small lines of text to test their visual acuity, usually at different distances to check near and far vision. Typically, the doctor will have the patient cover one eye and then repeat the test with the other eye covered. Covering one eye also helps the doctor to check for strabismus, a condition in which the two eyes are not aligned.
Eye Movement Testing
Doctors also check ocular motility by asking the patient to track the movement of a light or image from one side of a visual field to another. The test may also require shifting focus quickly from one target to another. Eye movement problems can lead to eye strain and poor vision, but they can often be treated with therapy, special lenses, or in some cases, surgery.
The Puff-Of-Air Test
The puff-of-air test checks pressure in the eye to screen for glaucoma, a condition of high intraocular pressure that can lead to blindness if left untreated. The test is performed with a machine that blows a quick puff of air against the eyeball and then measures the eye’s resistance. The test is brief and completely painless.
Dilation
Dilating the pupils allows doctors to examine the interior of the eye and detect very early signs of problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, macular degeneration, and glaucoma, all of which can impact the vision. Doctors use drops in the eyes to cause dilation, and afterwards patients will be extremely sensitive to light until the drops wear off.
Through these and other tests, eye doctors are able to detect and treat eye problems at an early stage as well as providing appropriate glasses or contact lens prescriptions for vision correction. Click here to make an appointment for an Eye Exam in Derby KS.
