Eye Exam

Regular eye exams help us find vision problems. And they let us see how your eyes are changing over time. Let's learn about what happens at an eye exam.

See a specialist

First, who gives an eye exam? You can go to an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. How often you need an eye exam depends on your age and health.

Vision test

During your eye exam, you read from an eye chart. This lets us see if you need glasses or contact lenses. Or, if you already wear them, we can see if your vision has changed.

Inside your eye

Next, we look inside your eyes. We may give you eye drops to make your pupils larger. We check the health of your retina (that's the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye). We look at other structures in your eye, too. We look at the surface of your eye. That's the "cornea." We may test the pressure inside your eye. And we may take photos of the inside of your eye.

After your exam

After your exam, your vision may be blurry. You may need to wear dark glasses while the eyedrops wear off and your pupils return to normal. This takes several hours. Someone else may need to drive you home from an eye exam.

Conclusion

Vision loss can happen without you realizing it. So get eye exams regularly. For more info, talk to your doctor.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.