Information and the process of an eye exam

Eye exams are important; they pick up early signs of eye problems before they become serious. An eye exam does more than determine if you need a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Your optometrist will also check for various eye diseases, determine how your eyes are working and examine your eyes as a precursor of your overall health. An eye exam St Louis will keep your eyes healthy and well.

Everyone should have their eyes examined on a regular basis. It is important for adults to have their eyes tested to keep their prescriptions up to date and to check for signs of eye disease such as glaucoma. In addition, eye exams for children are also important to ensure that their vision develops as it should and to confirm that they have the vision skills they need for schoolwork and other activities. 

The eye exam process begins by having a patient fill out a health history form. This gives your eye doctor an overview of your general health. The health history form asks if you have any specific medical conditions and also asks for a list of medications that could hinder your eyesight. The next step is meeting with your optician in an examination room. He or she will review your health history and discuss with you any issues you may be having with your eyes. Objective and automated measurements will be taken and a visual field machine will ascertain if your vision is fading in any area of your eyes. Then, you will be tested for glaucoma. 

If necessary, your eye doctor will then perform a visual field test to check for blind spots in your peripheral vision. The next step is a cover test. A cover test is a procedure that determines how your eyes are working together. The cover test will determine if you have a lazy eye, poor depth perception or binocular vision problems. More information can be gathered here.

Then, a refraction test is given to determine your prescription glasses or contact needs. Once the refraction test is given, a binocular slit-lamp examination is performed. This allows your eye doctor to examine the health of your eyes. With this test your doctor is able to check for signs of disease or infection.

 

Following the binocular slit-lamp examination, a dilation procedure is given so that your doctor can get a better view of the inside of your eyes. Once the exam is finished, your doctor will review the results. If your eyes are in good shape, you can pick out new eyeglasses but if there are any problems, a follow-up appointment  will be scheduled. 

To conclude, our eyes are important and necessary for everything we do in life. To maintain good vision and prevent serious eye concerns, see your eye doctor once a year. Find out from him or her what you can do to maintain good eyesight. Good nutrition, wearing sunglasses when outside and taking breaks from your computer, are tips that will keep your vision clear and in optimal condition.