You’ve passed a vision screening, and you can see just fine. So, you may wonder, why do you need a comprehensive eye exam?
A basic vision screening checks for various obvious vision problems, but only a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist can catch subtle issues with your vision, ensure that you’re free from potentially serious eye diseases, and make sure that your vision is as clear and comfortable as possible.
At McDonald Eye Care Associates, our optometrists use a variety of tests to examine your eyes. Visiting an eye doctor is part of taking care of your health, just like seeing a dentist or your family doctor. Throughout every life stage, eye exams help keep your vision strong.
When you visit us here at McDonald Eye Care Associates for a comprehensive eye exam, you can expect to spend at least an hour with us, depending on the tests needed to fully evaluate your vision and eye health.
The tests we use to evaluate your vision range from simple ones, like reading an eye chart, to complex tests that view tiny structures inside your eyes. Here’s what we look for during your eye exam.
Visual acuity test
Seeing in fine detail allows you to read a book, as well as see 20 feet in the distance. One of the first things we look for during a comprehensive eye exam is visual acuity. This refers to the sharpness of your vision. A projected eye chart and small hand-held acuity chart measure how much detail you can see near and at a distance.
Color blindness test
Certain health problems, as well as hereditary vision deficiencies can impact your color vision. We use a screening test to check your color vision and rule out color blindness. This helps ensure that you see colors as they really are.
People with color vision deficiency tend to have difficulty distinguishing between shades of red, yellow, and green. It’s not uncommon for people who have mild types of color vision deficiency to remain unaware of their condition until we detect it during an eye exam.
Eye movement test
During an ocular motility test, we check how well your eyes follow moving objects and how quickly your eyes can move between separate objects. We ask you to follow a target, such as a hand-held light while holding your head still. Any problems with ocular motility can affect activities such as reading and sports vision.
Slit lamp exam
A binocular microscope known as a biomicroscope gives us a good look at the structures of your eyes. During the exam, we ask you to place your chin and forehead against the front of the instrument. The microscope lets us to examine your eyes under high magnification, allowing for detection of a wide variety of eye conditions, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
Glaucoma test
Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness, and everyone is at risk, not just senior citizens. Young adults can get glaucoma, too. The pressure in your eyes is a major risk factor for glaucoma. We check intraocular pressure to assess your glaucoma risk.
Other eye exams
We may perform other more specialized tests to fully evaluate your vision and eye health. Regular eye examinations are an important part of preventive health care. Early diagnosis and treatment play a key role in protecting against vision loss.
McDonald Eye Care Associates, a multi-generational family practice, has been providing the highest quality of vision care to residents throughout the greater Lakeville, Minnesota, area for 30 years. Treating patients of all ages, McDonald Eye Care combines old-fashioned personalized attention with the latest technology available. For all your vision needs, schedule an appointment through online booking now or call the office.