Your Eye Exam: What to Expect

Adults under age 60 should have an eye exam at least every two years and more often if they have certain health conditions, like diabetes. After age 60, all adults should have annual eye exams. If you’re scheduled to see an eye doctor near Derry, here is what you can expect during your exam.

Medical History

Before the actual eye exam takes place, your doctor will take a complete medical history and ask questions about your vision and the eye health of your family members. Be ready to explain any concerns you have about your vision and to answer questions about your current medications and how you manage any chronic health conditions. Your eye doctor will use this information to personalize your eye exam and address your concerns and eye health risk factors.

Vision Testing

Vision testing is one component of an eye exam. Your doctor will use a number of different tests to determine how well you see and what prescription for corrective lenses you need, if any. One common test performed as part of your vision exam is the visual acuity test. During this test, your doctor will ask you to read lines of letters from a chart on which the letters get progressively smaller until you can no longer read them. Your doctor will also use a refractive test to determine the right prescription for you, during which you will look through a variety of lenses and state which ones give you the clearest vision.

Eye Health Testing

In addition to testing your vision, your doctor will perform tests to determine how healthy your eyes are. These tests may be tailored to your risk factors but can include testing for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Glaucoma can be diagnosed using a simple pressure test in which a puff of air is directed at each eye. Some eye health tests involve dilating your pupils so your doctor can see the backs of your eyes.