Eye exam

The key to a healthy vision is to take care of your eyes, which is why comprehensive eye exams are essential. And the great news is you don’t have to search for “places to get eye exams near you.” You can just visit your local For Eyes to see a nearby Independent Doctor of Optometry. It’s that easy.

Find out how a comprehensive exam can help you feel more confident in your vision health. Schedule your appointment today. Or scroll down to learn more about what is included in a For Eyes’ comprehensive exam.

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Our eyesight evolves throughout our lives, and children’s eyes are only beginning to develop, which is why regular exam of your eyes is important. Checking on the eyes every year allows the optometrist to identify and diagnose any vision or eye health issues that may develop. And it gives them a baseline for how much these issues have changed over a given period. 

Computer usage is also at an all-time high for people of all ages, impacting overall eye health. By spending too much time on screens, you can develop symptoms such as digital eye strain. Instead of coping with these symptoms on your own and having them affect your daily life, a timely visit to an Eye Doctor can help you prevent eye health issues.

By having a regular comprehensive eye exam, you can stay on top of any issues with your eyesight, update your prescriptions, and treat any early signs of impaired vision. Trust that when you take the time to check your eyes, a healthy vision is right around the corner. 

Did you know?

• Over 150 million Americans require prescription glasses or contacts due to a refractive error. (Source)
• 50 percent of adults living in the U.S. develop cataracts by age 75. (Source)
• 1 in 4 children with a refractive error does not have the right corrective eyewear. (Source)

What should you expect at a child’s eye exam? In addition to offering comprehensive eye care for adults, we offer children’s eye exams. This is because regular vision exams are just as vital to your child’s development and overall health as annual physicals.

Here is what to expect at a child’s eye exam:

• Discussion of Eye Concerns: If your child has been struggling in school, they may have a vision issue. The optometrist will talk to you and your child about your concerns while making both of you feel comfortable the entire time. 
• Routine Eye Tests: The optometrist will apply eye drops to your child’s eyes and perform additional tests (vision, pupil, eye movement, and eye pressure) to assess their eye health.
• Fitting for Glasses: If the optometrist determines your child needs glasses, they may recommend specific eyewear with impact-resistant lenses at the end of the appointment. They may also work with the other eye care professionals to fit your child for glasses. 

By informing your child about what to expect at a child’s eye exam, you can alleviate any anxiety with them going to their next appointment.

Eye exams can be intimidating if you haven’t had one before, but don’t worry. Our Independent Doctors of Optometry are trained professionals who are equipped to help with all your eye care needs. 

During your appointment, the optometrist may run several tests to check your eye health. The tests may be as simple as having you identify letters on an eye chart to using specialized equipment to check your eye anatomy. The main tests include but are not limited to a(n):

• Vision Test: All of our comprehensive eye exams include a standard vision test to assess how your eyes perform at different distances. During this test, you will view an eye chart at 20 feet away, using a variety of lenses to see which provides you with the best clarity. This will allow the optometrist to identify farsightedness and nearsightedness, as well as recommend prescription lenses if needed. 
• Pupil Test: There are a few ways the optometrist may assess your pupils, the primary method being to test how your pupils react to changes in light. Your eye doctor will reduce the room’s brightness and have you view an item several feet away while shining a light in your eye. They will watch how your pupil grows smaller or larger in reaction to the light. 
• Eye Movement Test: To see how your eyes work together while focusing on moving objects, the optometrist may perform an eye movement test. This involves them waving an item back and forth in front of you, and by monitoring how your eyes respond, they can assess your peripheral vision (or side vision).
• Eye Pressure Test: The “puff-of-air” (or tonometry test) assesses your overall eye pressure and helps your eye doctor identify early signs of glaucoma. The optometrist may have you rest your chin in a designated place so that you can view light in the machine at the right angle. Then, they will release air into your eye and monitor how your eye responds. 
• Slit Lamp Exam: A slit lamp is a binocular microscope used to examine the structures of your eye under high magnification. Using a slit lamp, the eye doctor will take a close look at your eye anatomy. It can help diagnose cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and dry eye disease, among others. 
• Dilated Pupillary Exam: The doctor will use eye drops to expand your eye’s pupil. That will let them check your eye fundus or retina for signs of disease. 

How often should you receive an eye exam?

How often you should see an eye doctor depends on your age, eye health, medical history, and vision concerns. Here are the general guidelines of how often you should receive a comprehensive eye exam: