What to Expect From Your Exam
During your eye exam, your eye doctor will guide you through a series of tests. Although there may be many tests involved in your eye exam, you can expect it to last just under an hour. These tests may include:
With convenient locations across California, Total Vision is a premier destination for eye exams across California. You can trust your Total Vision optometrist with your family’s vision and eye health through the years.
Frequency of Eye Exams
If you require glasses or contact lenses, you should expect to visit the eye doctor for an eye exam once a year. In addition to checking and updating your prescription, your eye doctor can keep track of the progression of your nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism and quickly diagnose any additional issues.
For those who do not require glasses or contact lenses, the frequency of eye exams is usually determined by age. If you have a family history of vision problems or a chronic condition such as diabetes, it may be advisable to schedule eye exams with more frequency. Your Total Vision optometrist can help you decide on the correct eye exam frequency for your needs.
Reasons to Schedule an Eye Exam
An eye exam is perhaps the most important foundation for maintaining your eye health and vision. Most eye exams will be conducted as a routine part of that maintenance, however the emergence of certain symptoms is a reason to call your local Total Vision center to schedule an eye exam right away.
In addition to your regularly scheduled eye exams, making an appointment to see your eye doctor when any of these or other unusual symptoms emerge can help ensure early diagnosis of eye problems or diseases.
Schedule an eye exam when you are experiencing:
- Blurred or double vision
- Squinting
- Sudden reduction in visual acuity
- Eye diseases
- Eye pain
- Eyestrain and headaches
- Dry eye
- Spots or floaters
Visual Acuity Tests
To complete visual acuity tests, your eye doctor will measure your ability to see a projected and handheld letter chart to measure your distance visual acuity and your near vision.
Color Blindness Test
This screening test detects hereditary color blindness but can additionally help your eye doctor to identify possible eye health problems that may affect your vision.
Stereopsis Test
Your stereopsis test measures your depth perception. Your eye doctor uses this test to determine how well your eyes work together to perceive the relative distance of objects.
Specialized Eye Tests
If your eye doctor determines that you may be suffering from additional visual problems or there is a possibility of eye disease, they will perform specialized eye tests to ensure you receive a precise diagnosis and the best treatment possible.
Retinoscopy
If an eyeglass or contact lens prescription is necessary, your eye doctor will use this test to get a general idea of what your prescription should be.
Refraction
The refraction test involves looking through a variety of prescription lenses so that your eye doctor can determine your exact glasses prescription.
Autorefractors and Aberrometers
In some cases, your eye doctor may employ an autorefractor or aberrometer to determine your glasses and/or contact lens prescriptions using a focused light on your retina.
Slit Lamp Exam
During the slit lamp exam, your eye doctor will use a binocular microscope to examine the structures of your eye.
Pupil Dilation
Pupil dilation allows your eye doctor to get a better view of your eye’s internal structures. You will be sensitive to light for a few hours after the exam, but it is a painless procedure.
Glaucoma Test
Also called the “puff of air” test, a glaucoma test measures your “intraocular pressure” to ensure you are not at risk for developing glaucoma.
