Do you remember when you last had a thorough eye exam? It may be time for one because if you cannot recall, it must have been a while back or never. Visiting your New Smyrna Beach FL ophthalmologist can help identify eye problems that mostly go unnoticed as they worsen.
Your ophthalmologist provides diagnosis and treatment for common eye problems. You may undergo a series of tests to evaluate every aspect of your visual health. Below are the four most common tests you can receive during your exams.
Visual Acuity Exam
A visual acuity test measures how you can see. During the exam, your doctor positions a printed chart some distance from you. Your doctor may then ask you to identify the alphabetical letters on the chart. As you read down the chart, the words in type get smaller and smaller.
You will perform the reading with every eye separately. Your doctor may then test your near vision with cards that hold letters at a reading distance. Your test results will determine how well you see and if you need corrective treatments.
Refraction Assessment
As light waves pass through your cornea and lens, they bend. You have a refractive error if the light does not focus perfectly on the back of your eye. Therefore, you may require a corrective treatment like surgery or contact lenses.
A refraction assessment helps your doctor to determine a prescription that gives the sharpest vision. Also, the assessment may tell your doctor that you do not require corrective lenses. Your doctor will likely use a retinoscopy or computerized refractor to evaluate your corrective prescription.
Visual Field Test
During a visual field test, your doctor measures the extent to which you see on the sides without moving your eyes. The test will determine whether you need help anywhere in your field of vision. If you cannot see in certain areas, your doctor notes the loss pattern and may diagnose your eye condition.
During the test, you may have a confrontation exam where you cover one eye and tell when your doctor moves their hand into view. You may also undergo manual testing, which includes Goldmann and tangent screen exams. Using your responses to these tests, your doctor will determine the fullness of your field of vision.
Color Vision Testing
You may be living with poor color vision without even noticing. Your doctor may recommend color testing to screen for color deficiency, especially if you have difficulty distinguishing certain colors. Most people may have congenital color blindness, making red-green colors difficult.
During the test, your doctor will show you several multicolored dot patterns. If you have no color deficiency, you will find it easy to pick out shapes and numbers within the dot patterns. Otherwise, you may find it difficult to see certain patterns in the dots if you have a color deficiency.
Regular eye exams are as essential to your health as other exams like annual physical and dental visits. A regular eye exam ensures your vision stays strong while detecting eye diseases at their onset. Since most eye symptoms usually go unnoticed for a while, they may progress and cause health concerns.
During an eye exam, your ophthalmologist checks your visual acuity, eye movement, and alignment. Your doctor may also look into the inside of your eyes to check for glaucoma and cataracts. Age, gender, and medical history may influence how often you should see your ophthalmologist.
