When you think about an eye exam, you probably picture reading letters on a chart and finding out whether you need glasses. But there is much more to a comprehensive eye exam than checking how clearly you see.
As an optometrist, one of the most important parts of my job is assessing the health of your eyes, not just your prescription. Many eye conditions can develop without obvious symptoms, which is why regular eye exams are important even when your vision seems perfectly fine.
At Blink Better, located on Plains Road in Burlington, we combine a thorough clinical examination with modern diagnostic technology to get a better understanding of your vision and overall eye health.
Here is what you can expect during your next eye exam.
1. We Start by Getting to Know You
Every eye exam begins with a conversation. We ask about your vision, any symptoms you are experiencing, your medical history, medications and family history of eye conditions.
Your overall health can tell us a lot about your eyes. Conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can affect the blood vessels and other structures inside the eye. Some changes may be visible during an eye exam before you notice any changes in your vision.
This information helps us understand your individual needs and determine which tests are appropriate for you.
2. Checking Your Prescription
This is the part most people are familiar with. We assess how clearly you see and determine whether you have nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
We also consider how your eyes work together and whether your prescription meets the demands of your everyday life. Whether you spend hours on a computer, drive frequently, read for work or enjoy outdoor activities, your vision should support the way you live.
Getting the right prescription is important, but it is only one part of a comprehensive eye examination.
3. Do Your Eyes Work Well Together?
Seeing clearly with each eye individually does not necessarily mean your eyes are working well together.
Your eyes need to coordinate their movements, maintain alignment and change focus efficiently to give you comfortable, single vision. These abilities are particularly important when reading, using a computer, studying or switching your focus between near and far objects.
During a comprehensive eye exam, we may assess how your eyes move and align, how well they work together when looking at an object, and how effectively they focus at different distances.
When these visual skills are not working efficiently, some people experience headaches, eyestrain, difficulty concentrating while reading, blurred vision or double vision. Children may struggle with reading or avoid close work without realizing that a visual issue could be contributing to their difficulties.
These symptoms can have several causes, so a proper assessment is important. Depending on your symptoms and examination findings, additional testing may be recommended to investigate how your visual system functions.
At Blink Better, we look beyond the letters on an eye chart because comfortable vision involves more than seeing clearly. It also involves how your eyes work together throughout the day.
4. Measuring Your Eye Pressure
Eye pressure testing helps us assess your risk for glaucoma, a group of conditions that can damage the optic nerve.
Glaucoma can develop gradually without noticeable symptoms. Vision loss may occur before someone realizes anything has changed, which is why regular assessments are important.
Eye pressure is only one factor we consider. We also examine the optic nerve and take your medical history, family history and other clinical findings into account.
5. Examining the Health of Your Eyes
During your optometry appointment, we examine the structures at the front of your eyes, including your cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids and lens. We also assess the back of your eyes, including the retina and optic nerve.
These examinations can help identify signs of conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and other eye diseases.
Some conditions develop slowly and do not affect your vision right away. This is one reason why an eye exam is important even if you are not experiencing any problems.
Depending on your age, symptoms, risk factors and examination findings, additional testing or dilation may be recommended.
6. Retinal Photography: A Picture of Your Eye Health
Retinal photography allows us to capture images of the back of your eye. These images provide a useful record of the retina, blood vessels and optic nerve that can be reviewed during future visits.
Having photographs to compare over time can help us monitor changes and determine whether further investigation is needed.
At Blink Better on Plains Road in Burlington, we use diagnostic technology to support our clinical assessments and help patients better understand their eye health.
7. OCT Scanning: A Closer Look Beneath the Surface
One of the technologies we use at Blink Better is optical coherence tomography, commonly known as OCT.
An OCT scan uses light waves to create detailed, cross sectional images of structures inside the eye. While retinal photography captures an image of the retinal surface, OCT allows us to examine individual retinal layers in greater detail.
This technology can help us evaluate and monitor conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and other retinal abnormalities.
We include macular OCT imaging as part of our adult eye examinations. It provides additional information about the health of the macula, the part of the retina responsible for detailed central vision.
OCT is a valuable tool, but it does not replace a complete eye examination. Your optometrist interprets the results alongside your symptoms, clinical findings and medical history to determine what they mean for you.
8. Will I Need to Have My Eyes Dilated?
Eye dilation involves using drops to widen your pupils so your optometrist can examine more of the inside of your eyes.
Whether dilation is necessary depends on your individual circumstances, including your symptoms, risk factors and examination findings.
Retinal photography and OCT provide valuable information, but they do not replace a dilated examination. Your optometrist will explain whether dilation or additional testing is recommended.
How Often Should You Have an Eye Exam?
The recommended frequency of eye exams depends on your age, health, risk factors and previous examination results.
Children, adults with certain medical conditions and people with a family history of eye disease may have different examination needs. Contact lens wearers may also require additional assessments to ensure their eyes remain healthy.
Even if you have never needed glasses, regular eye exams remain an important part of looking after your health.
If you live in Burlington, Aldershot or the surrounding Halton Region and are unsure when you are due for your next appointment, your optometrist can help you determine an appropriate schedule.