Comprehensive Exam

Comprehensive Eye Exam

Our Doctors will use a wide variety of tests and procedures to examine your eyes. The purpose of these tests is to determine not only your ability to see, but also to evaluate the overall health of your eyes. Many of the tests performed during an eye exam are similar, but testing will vary depending on your individual needs.

  • Your exam may include automated testing to give the doctor baseline information about your eyes. This includes autorefraction – a test to determine if you are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism, lensometry – a test to read the current prescription in your glasses, and keratometry – a test to determine the curvature of your cornea.
  • Your vision will be measured by reading the eye chart or visual acuity.
  • Muscle function tests will be performed to check the movement of your eyes. This test will identify any muscle weakness or involuntary eye movement. We will check your binocular vision to ensure your eyes work together. Binocular vision or stereo vision is important for proper depth perception, eye muscle coordination and the ability to change focus from near to far objects.
  • Visual field testing may be performed to measure your peripheral vision, or the total area you are able to see. This test is used to detect and monitor diseases of the eyes and neurological disorders.
  • A check of your eye pressure or intraocular pressure will be performed. High intra-ocular pressure may be a sign of glaucoma.
  • Color vision testing will allow us to ensure you perceive colors properly.
  • A total eye health assessment will be performed. This will allow the doctor to evaluate the overall health of your eyes. We will evaluate your pupil responses, cornea, lens, vitreous, retina, optic nerve, macula and more.

Typically an eye exam will take anywhere from a half hour to an hour depending on the number and complexity of tests required for your eyes.

EYE ANATOMY

Eye Anatomy

Cornea

Transparent front segment of the eye that covers iris, pupil, and anterior chamber, and provides most of an eye's optical power.

Pupil

Variable-sized, circular opening in center of iris; it appears as a black circle and it regulates amount of light that enters the eye.

Iris

Pigmented tissue lying behind cornea that (1) gives color to eye, and(2) controls amount of light entering eye by varying the size of the black pupillary opening (3) separates the anterior chamber from the posterior chamber.

Lens

Natural lens of eye; transparent intraocular tissue that helps bring rays of light to focus on the retina.

Retina

The "Movie Screen" of the eye. The part of the eye that converts images into electrical impulses sent along the optic nerve for transmission back to the brain. Consists of many named layers that include rods and cones.

Macula

Small, specialized central area of the retina responsible for acute central vision.

Vitreous

Transparent, colorless, gelatinous mass; fills rear two-thirds of the interior of the eyeball, between the lens and the retina.

Optic Nerve

Largest sensory nerve of eye; carries impulses for sight from retina to brain.