What Happens During an Eye Exam? What to Expect and How to Prepare for the Ophthalmologist

Regular eye examinations are an important part of your healthcare. Along with ensuring that you maintain good vision, eye health exams are designed to detect eye disease so treatment can begin before vision is compromised or lost. Don’t wait until you are experiencing problems to see an eye doctor. Some serious eye diseases — including glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — don’t manifest symptoms in their early stages.

If you’re wondering what happens during an eye exam, specifically a retinal exam, this article is for you. It covers what happens at an ophthalmology appointment as well as what you need to do before and after your eye exam.

Eye Doctor Appointment: What to Expect

The following evaluations and tests are typically part of a comprehensive eye exam:

• Visual acuity. Using a standardized eye chart, the doctor will test each eye to determine how well you see both near and at a distance.
• Eye muscle coordination. The doctor will ask you to follow an object — like a pen or a finger  — to gauge your level of eye-muscle coordination.
• Pupil light response. Your ophthalmologist will flash a light into each eye to gauge your pupil’s response and to check for issues like optic nerve injury or oculomotor nerve damage.
• Visual field test. The doctor will conduct a visual field test — either manually by moving their fingers or in automated fashion with a special visual field test machine, to measure your peripheral vision.
• Cornea examination. The doctor will use a slit lamp microscope to examine the cornea and other structures that are in the front section of the eye.
• Intraocular pressure. The doctor will use a special instrument to painlessly measure the eye pressure.
• Dilation exam. Your ophthalmologist will dilate both eyes with eye drop medications so they can examine the lens, retina, and optic nerve of each eye to ensure that there are no abnormalities. Dilating drops often cause blurred vision, but the effect wears off after a few hours.
• Indirect ophthalmoscope – This device is mounted on your ophthalmologist’s forehead. It is a condensing lens and the bright light will allow your doctor to see the retina and other structures in the eye, which is different than the above-mentioned pupil light response.
• Fundus photography and OCT. Both of these diagnostics use highly specialized cameras. They are non-invasive tests used to visualize the microscopic structures of the retina to help detect conditions such as AMD, diabetic retinopathy, macular holes, macular edema, and retinal vein occlusions.

How Long Does an Eye Exam Take

The amount of time spent at the eye doctor’s office will depend on a number of factors. For instance, an initial eye exam with a general ophthalmologist — one that includes a comprehensive medical history and many of the tests discussed above — can often take an hour or two. A routine follow-up, however, could take less than 30 minutes. However, a subspecialty consultation, such as with a retina specialist, often requires more time. This is attributable to a higher complexity of disease, the need for more extensive diagnostic testing, and the fact that unanticipated ocular emergencies such as retinal detachment occasionally cause delays.

If you’re concerned about how long the appointment will be, it’s a good idea to speak to the office in advance so that you can plan your day accordingly.

What to Do and What Not to Do Before an Eye Exam

If you’re seeing an ophthalmologist for the first time, you’ll want to make sure that you prepare for the office visit.

• Review your personal and family history. Talk to parents, siblings, or other relatives to get a thorough picture of any family history of eye disease. If you have had surgery, make a list of the past surgeries according to type and date.
• Make a list of your medications. Your eye doctor needs to know what medicines you take — and at what doses — so they can assess how these meds could be impacting your eye health.
• Bring necessary documentation. Bring your identification, insurance card, and current prescription for glasses or contacts with you.
• Make a note of symptoms and write down questions. Sometimes people forget to mention important information about symptoms or ask questions about certain concerns.
• Bring a snack. Diabetic patients are encouraged to bring a snack and drink.
• Bring your corrective lenses. If you usually wear contact lenses, please wear your glasses instead. If you must wear your contact lenses, please bring your own case and lens solution.

Avoid the following:

• Being sleep deprived. You and your eyes need rest before your appointment.
• Straining your eyes. Stay off your computer and devices prior to your exam.
• Drinking coffee or alcohol. Coffee and alcohol can raise your blood pressure, and alcohol can actually cause your eyes to feel dry and irritated.

Is It Okay to Drive Yourself to an Eye Doctor

Your vision may become blurred and sensitive to light following dilation. While your vision should return to normal within a few hours, there’s no specific time period you are required to wait before driving, since the degree to which vision is affected will vary from individual to individual. The safest bet, especially for your first eye exam, is to arrange to have a driver accompany you to the first visit in case you feel uncomfortable driving after your exam.

One caveat is that if your appointment is with an ophthalmic subspecialist such as a retina specialist, there is a greater chance that you may need a more intense test or procedure, so it is prudent to have someone available to drive you home after your appointment.

Maintain Your Eye Health With Mid Atlantic Retina

If you are dealing with a retinal disease, the doctors at Mid Atlantic Retina can help. Our eye physicians offer the latest in diagnostics and testing and deliver state-of-the-art and personalized care to each patient.

To protect your eye and retinal health, make an appointment with a Mid-Atlantic Retina specialist today at 800-331-6634.