What to Expect During a Comprehensive Eye Exam

Are you confused about what an eye exam really is, or what the difference is between an eye exam and a comprehensive eye exam in Falls Church, VA? You’re not the only one. But it’s really quite clear (like your vision will be after a comprehensive eye exam!). A comprehensive eye exam is more than just checking your vision; it assesses the overall health of your eyes and can detect early signs of eye conditions or other health problems. Comprehensive eye exams are often needed when the person has special concerns or underlying issues like a history of glaucoma, diabetes or other things. To get to the point, here’s what you can expect during a typical comprehensive eye exam.

Review of Medical History and Vision Concerns

Your comprehensive eye exam will begin with a discussion of your medical history and any vision concerns you may have. The optometrist will ask about current medications, past eye conditions, and any family history of eye diseases. If you’ve experienced changes in vision or symptoms like eye strain or headaches, this is the time to speak up!.

Vision Tests

The core part of the exam involves checking your visual acuity, or how clearly you can see at various distances. If you need corrective lenses, the optometrist will perform a refraction test to determine your prescription. You’ll look through different lens options, indicating which ones provide clearer vision. You’re probably very familiar with this part, unless you’ve never visited the eye doctor before, which we hope is not true!

Eye Health Assessment

Next, your optometrist will examine the external and internal structures. This may include shining a light into your eyes to check how your pupils react and using a slit-lamp microscope to inspect the front part of the eye, including the cornea and lens. Tonometry may also be performed, which measures the pressure inside your eye and screens for glaucoma.

There’s a lot more to comprehensive eye exams, but you can review all the particulars with your optometrist in Falls Church, VA when you visit Nova Vision Center. Contact us today to book your appointment!