Whether you have been wearing glasses for years or need them for the first time, scheduling routine eye exams ensures you have the proper prescription. Eye doctors recommend these exams once a year, as the tests allow them to spot changing vision issues and ocular diseases early. Below are several aspects of an exam to help you prepare. 

What Does an Eye Exam Include?

1. Visual Acuity Test

This is the vision test people are most familiar with. The eye doctor asks you to sit across from a large chart and cover one eye. The chart contains rows of letters that become smaller as the rows progress, and you must continue reading them until you can no longer see them. At that point, you'll switch eyes and read them again. This gives the doctor a baseline of your vision and shows any major changes in your prescription.

2. Refraction Test

This type of eye exam is used to form an accurate prescription for glasses or contact lenses. The doctor positions you in front of a device that contains many lenses. Then, you will look through the holes while the doctor switches lenses of different prescriptions until your vision becomes clear. During the test, they'll ask you to report which lenses improve your vision the most.

3. Slit Lamp Test

While this test doesn't affect your prescription, it is used to diagnose ocular conditions, such as detached retinas and macular degeneration. During the test, the eye doctor shines light directly into your eyes. This lets them see inside the corneas, lenses, and irises to look for signs and symptoms of disorders.

4. Eye Movement

This test entails moving a finger or pen across your line of vision to determine how well your eyes can follow it. The purpose of this eye exam is to establish whether the muscles around your eyes are moving correctly, which is crucial for proper focus. If your eyes do not track the object properly, this could be a sign of muscle issues, such as slight strabismus, which may require vision therapy to fix.

5. Pupil Dilation

Pupil dilation provides a view of the back of the eyes to evaluate the health of your retina and optic nerve. Dilation involves using medicated eye drops to expand your pupil. Then, the doctor shines a light into your eyes so that they can see clearly. Since it can take an hour or two for the effects to wear off, you may be sensitive to light after the eye exam. Bring sunglasses or arrange for another person to drive to stay safe.

If you need a regular eye exam, contact Dr. Matthew Lipparelli, OD, in Elko, NV. This eye doctor has been helping people since 1990. They use state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose refractive areas and eye disorders. They also have a wide selection of designer frames for you to choose from. Call (775) 753-5353 to schedule an exam. Visit the website to learn more about their services.