Many view an eye test as nothing more than something that needs to be done before buying new glasses- many people who do not wear spectacles have never even had an eye examination!
During the exam, we will ask a number of questions about how you feel you are seeing, what if any problems you may have, and some about your general health, past history of eye problems, and the health of immediate family members.
You will be refracted (where we determine what refractive error there may be in the eyes), which is important, even if someone has no intention of wearing specs- we have to find out how well an individual could possibly see. This gives a benchmark should they ever complain of a deterioration in their sight. Unfortunately not all causes of poorer sight are because of a requirement for spectacles.
We will also check your eye coordination to ensure that there is no cause for discomfort or strain, and most importantly will look at and into your eyes to ensure they are healthy. There are various other checks and tests which we may wish to do to further investigate the function of your eyes.
By the end of the test we will be able to inform you whether your eyes are healthy, and if we were to suspect a problem, we will discuss this with you and arrange further investigation, either with your own doctor or with an ophthalmologist (specialist eye doctor).
Eye problems are fortunately relatively rare, but most will benefit from early detection, so we would recommend most adults be examined every two years, Diabetics (unless their eyes are routinely checked elsewhere), those with Glaucoma, or with a close family member with Glaucoma, and those under 16 should probably be tested more frequently- we would usually recommend annual checks for these people.
