A comprehensive eye examination is the foundation of your eye health. It’s important to have periodic eye & vision examinations as part of your preventive healthcare. These examinations allow the doctor to screen, diagnose & treat possible problems in order to help preserve your vision. Many eye diseases have no signs of symptoms until vision loss has already occurred. Some disease can cause permanent irreversible vision loss & regular eye exams are the only way to detect if you are at risk for these conditions.
What To Expect During Your Exam?
A comprehensive examination will include a review of your overall health & medical issues. Medications will be reviewed at this time as well, so bringing a current list of your medications is important for these visits. Technicians will help the doctor by collecting this information at the start of your visit. Your eyes will be checked to determine how well you can see. If you currently wear glasses, it’s important you bring these with you. Often a refraction is performed to see if your vision can be improved with new glasses prescription. Your eye pressure will be tested during this visit.
At your exam, you should expect to have your eyes dilated so that the doctor can have a clear view of the internal structures of the eye. Some patients feel more comfortable having a driver with them while their eyes are dilated. The dilation should wear off after a few to several hours. The doctor may order additional tests to check for eye disease or monitor already diagnosed issues. The exam usually lasts from 30-60 minutes.
