Standard eye exam

First, you will be asked if you are having any eye or vision problems. You will be asked to describe these problems, how long you have had them, and any factors that have made them better or worse. Your history of glasses or contact lenses will also be reviewed. The eye doctor will then ask about your overall health,…

Make an appointment with an eye doctor (some take walk-in patients). Avoid eye strain on the day of the test. If you wear glasses or contacts, bring them with you. You may need someone to drive you home if the doctor uses eye drops to dilate your pupils.

The tests cause no pain or discomfort.

All children should have vision screening in a pediatrician's or family practitioner's office around the time when they learn the alphabet, and then every 1 to 2 years afterward. Screening should begin sooner if any eye problems are suspected. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the following schedule…

Results of a routine eye exam are normal when the eye doctor finds you have: 20/20 (6/6) (normal) vision Ability to identify different colors Full visual field Proper eye muscle coordination Normal eye pressure Normal eye structures (cornea, iris, lens)

Abnormal results may be due to any of the following: ARMD Astigmatism (abnormally curved cornea) Blocked tear duct Cataracts Color blindness Corneal dystrophy Corneal ulcers, infections , or injury Damaged nerves or blood vessels in the eye Diabetic retinopathy (Diabetes-related damage to the back of the eye)…

If you receive drops to dilate your eyes for the ophthalmoscopy, your vision will be blurred. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from sunlight, which can damage your eyes more when they are dilated. Have someone drive you home. The drops usually wear off in several hours. In rare cases, the dilating eyedrops cause:…

Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Eyes. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination . 10th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 12. Chuck RS, Dunn SP, Flaxel CJ; American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Pattern Committee, et al.…