subject: Are You Having Eye Problems? Know What To Expect When Coming In For An Eye Test [print this page] When it comes to your health, your eyes may be one of the things that you are taking for granted especially if you still have perfect 20/20 vision.
Perhaps the only time that you will pay notice to the health of your eyes is when you start experiencing visual problems. As a person ages, for example, he or she would require reading glasses due to the naturally-occurring condition of astigmatism.
This is something that will be diagnosed once you get in touch with an eye doctor. If youre a younger individual who is already experiencing vision problems, then it is a must for you to undergo an eye test. But who exactly is it that performs eye tests, and what should you expect during the procedure? Read on to find out.
Who Performs an Eye Test?
First, who is the person who can perform an eye test? A lot of people mistake opticians, ophthalmologists and optometrists against each other interchanging what these individual eye professionals actually do. When you need a surgery, an ophthalmologist will be the one to perform the procedure.
For those who are experiencing any vision problems, it is an optometrist who will perform the tests and make a prescription for you. Then, an optician will be the one to fit the corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses that you need based on the doctors recommendations. Out of these three professionals, it is either the optometrist or the ophthalmologist who will be qualified to give you an eye exam or an eye test.
What to Expect during the Consultation & Eye Examination
Your vision is one of the most important aspects of your health that you should never take for granted. As such, the minute that you experience any symptom relating to your vision, you should immediately set up an appointment with an optometrist for an eye exam. If it is your first time to do so, here are a few pointers on what you need to expect during the consultation:
If you are already wearing prescription eyeglasses and the lens need to be corrected, the optometrist will check for any improvements or worsening of your vision.
Optometrists usually perform an initial check by requiring the patient to read using the naked eye.
The eye doctor will also determine whether you have any underlying conditions which may have affected your way of literally seeing things.
Aside from requiring patients to read a chart, some of the most common tests performed by opticians include ones conducted via retinoscope, tonometer, a visual fields screener or a colour vision chart.
Once the eye doctor has diagnosed your condition, a course of treatment will be recommended. For instance, if you need to require corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses, the optometrist will recommend an optician for you. The role of the optician is to make the eyeglasses or contact lenses based on the recommendation of the doctor. Fitting, making the lenses and ensuring correctness of vision for the patient after the visual aid is worn is what an optician does.
Knowing what to expect during an eye exam will help you prepare for the examination, so that you can take better care of your eye health.
