Your Eye Exam

You may be surprised to learn that a comprehensive eye exam involves more than reading letters and numbers on an eye chart. Don’t worry—this type of eye exam is NOT "invasive", and you will be perfectly comfortable throughout the consultation.

Your doctor may be assisted by a trained technician during your consultation. To perform some of the tests, the doctor will need to examine the eyes’ internal structures. You will be given eye drops that dilate (enlarge) the pupils of your eyes so the doctor can see inside.

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Your medical and vision history will be reviewed with you, and tests will be performed to determine some or all of the following:

How well your eyes work together
How your pupils react to light
The size of the smallest print you can read on an eye chart
The condition of the exterior of your eyes and eyelids
How light reflects from your eyes
Your exact lens prescription
The condition of your cornea, iris, and the front inside of the eye
The condition of structures at the back of your eyes, such as the retina and its blood vessels, the optic nerve, and the vitreous (the jelly-like substance that fills the inside of the eye)
The pressure inside your eye
The thickness of your corneas
The scope of the area you can see without moving your eyes

How long will my eye exam take?

It takes time to gather this information. You should allow at least 30 to 60 minutes for your appointment.

If your eyes are dilated, they will still be more sensitive to light than usual when you leave the office after your eye exam. It’s a good idea to bring sunglasses (and perhaps another driver) with you.