What Happens During a Comprehensive Eye Exam?
The eyes are like the most complex organ in the human body. Therefore, a comprehensive eye examination in North York involves several tests of correctness. Unlike a regular vision screening that only checks your vision, a comprehensive exam has a battery of tests from which the eye doctor in North York, Toronto, ON uses to access your eyes’ overall health.
However, tests you undergo during a comprehensive eye exam vary from one doctor to another, but below are the common eye tests performed in a dental exam.
Patient Background
Among the most important aspects of a comprehensive eye exam is patient history. With this information, your doctor is aware of any conditions you have that need close monitoring. You will disclose information about any allergies and medications you take, any family history of systemic, eye pathology, and environmental conditions that could affect your eyes.
This way, your doctor will also develop the right preventative measures for the future.
Visual Acuity
For visual acuity, your eye doctor measures the condition of your vision through an eye chart, also called the Snellen Eye Chart. During this test at Yorkdale Eyecare, you will be seated at a distance and asked to read certain letters and symbols of varying sizes, which get smaller as you get down the chart.
Results are measured in 20/20, 20/40 ratios, etc. This is the ratio of the patient’s vision to the vision of an average person. For instance, for a patient with 20/40 vision, they can see a distance of 20 feet what a normal person would see clearly from 40 feet.
Refraction
If you lack a 20/20 vision, you have what is usually called a Refractive Error. You may suffer nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and other eye disorders that prevent you from having a 20/20 vision with this defect.
With information on your eye’s refraction condition, the optician can recommend the right type of prescription lenses to correct your eyesight for a crisp 20/20 vision or another correct vision.
Color Blindness Test
According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, a color blindness test should be performed early in the comprehensive exam to roll out color blindness.
This test determines if your color blindness is a hereditary deficiency and informs your doctor of other possible eye problems affecting your color vision.
Cover Test
The Eye doctor in North York, Toronto, ON uses the cover test to check for eye alignment. This test to check how your eyes work together is among the most common types of tests.
During this test, your eye doctor asks you to focus your vision on a small object in the room and then alternately covers each of your eyes while you stare. The test is then repeated with a closer thing.
During the tests, your eye doctor checks whether your uncovered eye has to move to focus on the targhet object. If this is the case, it could indicate the possibility of strabismus or other causes of amblyopia (lazy eyes).
Retinoscopy
The retinoscopy exam is performed early in the eye exam to approximate the right type of prescription glasses.
In retinoscopy, your eye doctor dims the room’s lights then places a sizeable target object in front of your eyes (usually the big “E” in the eye chart). As you stare at it, the eye doctor shines a light on your eyes and flips several sample lenses in front of the eyes using a machine. This way, they can determine which type of lenses best corrects your vision at that instance.
Retinoscopy tests are better for children and non-verbal patients who cannot answer the doctor’s questions.
Autorefractors and Aberrometers
These are computerized machines used to determine the best prescription glasses and contact lenses for you by measuring your refractive error. These machines are used alongside other tests mentioned above.
Autorefractor – is similar to the retinoscopy test, which analyzes the light reflex from your eye.
Aberrometer analyzes the cornea and measures distortions or aberrations of the eye lens that disrupt the retinal light focus. It uses wavefront technology to measure the light rays passing through the eye for imperfections, pointing to a refractive error.
Eye Health
Eye health is the final and most essential aspect of a vision screening eye exam. The eye doctor has to check for the overall eye health to determine what conditions or diseases could be affecting your eye and general health.
These tests include:
- The Sit Lamp Test
- Tonometry – to detect glaucoma
- The Pupil Dilation test