Dr. Quan A complete, comprehensive eye exam is the only way to ensure total eye health and diagnose any eye-related health issues. It is more than checking to see if your vision is 20/20 and handing out a prescription. Many factors can affect your eye health, and a complete eye exam takes all of those factors into account before any further action is taken.
We've broken the exam down into plain language to help you understand the role each test plays. The following tests are the most commonly performed; however, your optometrist may choose to add additional tests if complications are perceived.
Steps in a Typical Optometric Examination
- Case history - you will be asked about your general health, medications you may be taking, your working environment, hobbies, etc. You will also be asked to describe any vision problems you may have been experiencing.
- External eye examination - your optometrist will examine the external area around the eye to ensure that there are no abnormalities.
- Internal eye examination - using the slit lamp microscope and an ophthalmoscope, your optometrist will check your eyes for indications of abnormalities, from front to back. Some problems detected during an internal eye examination may indicate possible disease, such as diabetes or hypertension. If your optometrist sees any of these warning signs, you will be referred to a physician for further examination.
- Tonometry - measures the fluid pressure in the eye and is an important test in detecting glaucoma.
- Vision tests - a number of tests are used to assess your vision:
- Retinoscopy - the optometrist can determine the strength of your eyes using various lenses and the retinoscope. This is done without feedback from the patient and is therefore an invaluable instrument for assessing the vision problems of children and others who may not be able to read an eye chart.
- Visual acuity tests - using the familiar wall chart and a hand-held chart, your optometrist will assess your ability to see small detail clearly at both near and far distances. You may sit behind a phoropter, an instrument containing a combination of lenses. Lens choices are systematically changed until clear focus is obtained.
- Eye movement - using a number of different tests, the optometrist will evaluate how well your eyes align or coordinate when working together and individually.
- Peripheral vision - the optometrist may evaluate how well you see targets which are not directly in front of you.
- Other tests may be undertaken to evaluate your ability to change focus, see colour correctly, or perceive depth correctly.
- Complete Ocular Health Check - a thorough evaluation of the overall health of your eyes, front to back, to detect early signs of disease or abnormalities.
The items above are typical of a routine eye examination. Your optometrist will choose the tests required to adequately evaluate your visual system.
The Recipe for Total Eye Health
All of the above exams are used in conjunction with one another to determine the best type of care needed for your eyes. A sight test alone cannot adequately provide this information, as it only relies on the refraction portion of your eye health. A refraction cannot tell you whether or not you have an underlying eye health issue that, if left untreated, can seriously affect your overall health.
All patients with Alberta Health Care coverage, regardless of age, are now covered for any urgent medical eye health care or emergency care visit at our offices.
Eye-Related Emergencies We Treat
The optometrist can diagnose and treat a variety of eye related emergencies, including:
- Foreign body removal
- Blunt trauma
- Corneal abrasions
- Welder's flash / chemical splash
- Red eyes
- Flashes / floaters
- Double vision
- Eye pain and light sensitivity
If the optometrist is unable to treat the eye related emergency, they will refer you to the appropriate health care professional.
Have more questions?
Call us at 1-888-381-2677 or email info@drquan.ca
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