What Is Involved In A Comprehensive Eye Examination?

What Is Involved In A Comprehensive Eye Exam in Jacksonville, FL?

When it comes to your vision and eye health, the best way to prevent long term damage is with a comprehensive eye exam. By visiting your Jacksonville optometrist at VAL-Uvision for a routine exam you can avoid serious eye conditions. We are able to detect eye and vision problems early on, which allows us to begin treatment immediately.

If you have not had your eyes checked in a while, or you have never been to an eye doctor near you for an exam, it is time to call your eye doctor to set up an appointment. But first take a look at what you can expect when you receive a comprehensive eye exam in Jacksonville, FL.

1. Go Over Medical History & General Health Questions

The first part of your eye exam will include a medical history including general health questions. Your optometrist at VAL-Uvision will discuss any eye problems or concerns with your vision you may be experiencing. Additionally, you will be asked about your previous eye exams, if applicable.

]If you have vision correction needs and wear contact lenses or eyeglasses, be sure to bring those to the appointment as well. Your eye doctor will want to know what type of corrective lens you are currently using.

2. The Eye Test(s)

The next phase involves the actual eye examination. You will be asked to perform a serious of exams that will test different areas of your eyes and vision. For example, you will read eye charts and look at bright lights as the eye doctor examines your eyeball and vision abilities.

Several different eye tests may be performed during the eye exam, including:

• Visual acuity test – You’ll sit in front of an eye chart, with letters that get smaller as you read down each line. You’ll cover each eye in turn and, using the other eye, read aloud, going down the chart, until you can’t read the letters anymore.
• Cover test – This tells how well your eyes work together. You’ll stare at a small target some distance away. The doctor will cover and uncover each eye to observe how much your eyes move. Your doctor will also be watching for an eye that turns away from the target. This is a condition called strabismus. You may take the test again with a target close to you.
• Slit lamp – This device magnifies and lights up the front of your eye. The doctor uses it to check your cornea, iris, lens, and the back of your eye, looking for signs of certain eye conditions.
• Refraction -a refraction test helps our eye doctor figure out what prescription you need for glasses or contact lenses. Our doctor may have you look into a machine that displays lenses of different strengths. By switching the lens in front of each eye while you read letters and numbers on a chart, we can figure out which lens is best for you.
• Retinoscopy – A retinoscopy allows our optometrist to approximate your optimal lens prescription. As you gaze through the phoropter, our eye doctor flips different lenses in front of your eyes. You focus on a prominent object in front of you. Our optometrist shines a light into your eyes and watches how the light affects your eyes with different lenses.
• and many more

It’s important to note, an eye examination is different from a contact lens exam. How much a contact lens exam is will depend on several factors.

Overview On What To Expect During Appointment

In summary, when you come in for your first eye appointment, our first step is to gather your medical and vision history. We’ll talk to you about any symptoms or changes in your vision. And, we’ll discuss any concerns you have. We’ll then conduct two types of exams.

The first measures the overall quality of your vision. We’ll ask you to read letters on a chart placed against a wall. We’ll look at the visual quality you have in each eye. If there are any limitations to your vision, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, we’ll provide a more thorough exam to determine the proper prescription for you for eyeglasses.

In addition to this testing, we also will perform several evaluations of your eye health during your first comprehensive examination. We look at the inner structure of the eye using a variety of handheld devices and optometry equipment. This is noninvasive, but it tells us more about the structure of your eyes and any concerns related to cataracts, macular degeneration, and other conditions.

Other Eye Examination Questions

What is Vision Testing?

Once your optometrist has completed the eye exam, they will provide a variety of tests. These vary per patients depending on what the optometrist has noted from your medical history and eye exam. For example, if you are a candidate for glaucoma you will be tested for this eye disease. Other vision tests include a test for color vision, perimetry, retinal health, and visual acuity.

If you are noted as having any areas of concern, your eye doctor may require you to return for a second appointment for additional, and more specialized, vision testing. This is often the case for individuals diagnosed with eye conditions or vision issues, such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, or nearsightedness, or astigmatism.

If you need an eye exam on Sunday, we have locations that are open that day!

What Age Is Best For An Eye Exam?

An eye exam is suited for any age. For children, we offer pediatric eye exams here at VAL-Uvision. This type of eye exam can be given to infants as young as 6 months. In fact, it is recommended to get an eye exam for your newborn to ensure they are not suffering from eye problems early on. School-aged children who are suffering from learning disorders, frequent headaches, chronic tearing, or eye related issues should also get a comprehensive eye exam. These are common symptoms of eye diseases among children.

In addition to treating adults, we also provide specialized eye exams for seniors. This age group experienced age-related diseases, conditions, and general vision loss. We can help slow the progress of such conditions, while also providing treatment for diabetic retinopathy, dry eye condition, and glaucoma.

How Much Does An Eye Exam Cost?

The cost of eye exams varies depending on the type of testing done and other factors. Insurance plays a role as well. We have an article discussing how much an eye exam without insurance costs, if vision insurance isn’t something you have at the moment, or we encourage you to call us to ask us for pricing! We have lots of ongoing eye exam specials at our locations.

Contact an Optometrist in Jacksonville, FL Today for an Eye Exam!

If you have other questions about eye exams, we can help! Now that you understand everything to expect with a comprehensive eye exam, it is time to visit an optometrist in Jacksonville, FL. Our eye doctors accept all new patients whether this is a first-time visit or a routine exam. We have two optometry locations to better serve the Jacksonville area.