About your Optometrist

During an eye exam, an Optometrist performs a series of tests and evaluations to assess your vision and the overall health of your eyes. Here’s what typically happens:

1. Vision Assessment:

• Visual Acuity Test: You’ll be asked to read letters on a chart to measure how clearly you see at various distances.
• Refraction Test: The Optometrist will use a device called a phoropter, or a trial frame, switching lenses in front of your eyes to determine your exact prescription for glasses or contact lenses.

2. Eye Health Evaluation:

External Eye Examination: The Optometrist will inspect the outer parts of your eyes, including the eyelids, cornea, and conjunctiva, to check for any abnormalities.

Internal Eye Examination:

Using a specialized microscope called a slit lamp, the Optometrist will examine the inside of your eyes, including the lens, retina, and optic nerve, to look for signs of conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration.

Eye Pressure Measurement:

A test called tonometry checks the pressure inside your eyes, which is crucial for detecting glaucoma.

Pupil Response:

The Optometrist will check how your pupils react to light and assess your eye muscles’ function.

3. Additional Tests (if needed):

• Colour Vision Testing: To identify any colour blindness issues.
• Depth Perception Test: To see how well your eyes work together to perceive depth.
• Peripheral Vision Test: To measure the range of your side vision.
• Retinal Imaging: In some cases, the Optometrist may take detailed images of the retina to monitor for diseases or changes over time.
• Dry eye evaluation: advice can be given on managing dry eye symptoms
• Diabetic eye health checks.
• Contact lens fittings.
• Workplace assessments for visual screens or safety and eye protection.
• Post cataract surgery exams.