While going to the eye doctor is not generally considered as intimidating as some medical undertakings, it can be helpful to understand the testing procedures that the Austin opthamologist uses to test the health and status of your windows to the world. There are several tests that will be done and many will require the use of specialized equipment. Here is a list of the most commonly performed at an eye doctor appointment.
A Test for Visual Acuity
Do you want to know if you need glasses or if your prescription has changed since the last time you ordered contacts? Then you will require this general exam. The goal is to determine how well your eyes see the world around you at varying distances. This test will determine if a person suffers from myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or both.
This test is done as a basic check-up of the eyes, to ensure that they are viewing the world properly, but it can also help a doctor follow-up on particular eye conditions that a patient may suffer from, such as retinopathy. This type of test is also generally required in order to receive a driver’s license.
This test is typically performed with the use of charts held at specific distances. The eye doctor will ask the patient to read a row of letters, numbers, or shapes from the chart, which vary in size, in order to determine the visual accuracy at that distance.
A Measure of Refraction
If the visual acuity test shows that there is difficulty seeing at one or more distances, then this secondary exam will help the medical professional determine what type of corrective lens will be required to compensate for the given refractive error. That is to say, it will determine what is needed to make the light enter the eye at the right angle so vision is clearer. This test is only necessary when a patient is in need of corrective lenses.
This test is commonly associated with the question ‘better or worse?’ It involves the use of small lenses, which are placed in front of the eyes. As the doctor changes the lens that the patient looks through, the image that he or she sees will change slightly (or significantly) in clarity. The goal is to narrow down the possible prescriptions to find the right fit for the patient’s visual difficulties.
Checking Peripheral Vision
At the outer edges of the image you see when staring straight ahead, there is a portion of the vision field called peripheral vision. Difficulties seeing clearly to either side can be a sign of a problem. There are possible complications that can occur within the eye with symptoms that are not immediately evident. Two of those that can be detected by changes in peripheral vision include macular degeneration and glaucoma. Both of these problems are very common and can be slowed substantially if detected early.
Color Vision Testing
In young children or people at risk for particular eye-related illnesses, it may be necessary to test color vision. Everyone has heard of color blindness and this test can help an optometrist or ophthalmologist determine if that is something the person suffers from. For some careers, it is essential that a person be able to decipher between colors.
Broberg Eye Care
207 James Casey St # 305
Austin, TX 78745-1193
(512) 447-6096
