Annual eye exams are one of the easiest ways to keep your vision sharp and your eyes healthy. But many people don’t visit the eye doctor unless they experience a vision change or another related issue.
If you’re preparing for your very first eye exam, you’ve probably wondered what to expect. You might even be wondering if you need to bring anything from home, or take steps to prepare in advance.
At Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, and Palmdale, California, Mary Demirjian, OD, and our team regularly see new patients. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to your first eye exam. By the time you’re finished, you’ll feel more confident and prepared.
When you arrive for your eye exam, the first thing we do is review your health history and current medications. We’ll also ask whether you’ve noticed any specific vision changes.
Many medical conditions directly impact the eyes, so let us know if you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, or another chronic illness.
Likewise, tell us about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications you take. This information may seem minor, but it helps us get a fuller picture of your vision and health.
After gathering your baseline information, we conduct a series of quick vision screenings to evaluate your eyes’ overall function. Specifically, we:
These tests are quick and painless, but they provide key insights into your ocular health. They also help us identify early signs of eye disease, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Next, we test your visual acuity, which shows how sharp and clear your vision is. During this test, we place a tool called a phoropter in front of your eyes and ask you to read letters and numbers off a chart on the wall. The letters and numbers get progressively smaller as the chart descends.
First, we test your vision with your eyes alone. Then, we use the phoropter to magnify the chart. This lets us see how well you see at different distances and helps us determine the right corrective vision prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Last, we use special tools and lights to examine and magnify the inside and outside of your eyes. For example, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging test that creates detailed, cross-sectional images of your retina, optic nerve, and other structures at the back of your eyes. This can help us detect eye diseases early, before they cause noticeable symptoms.
These tests typically involve dilating your pupils with special eye drops. Dilation is safe, but it’s normal to experience sensitivity to light and temporary blurry vision afterward.
After gathering a comprehensive picture of your eye health and vision, we make personalized treatment recommendations. Depending on your needs, we may prescribe glasses or contacts.
If you have an eye disease, such as glaucoma, we might recommend special eyedrops, surgery, or regular monitoring. Regardless, the goal is always to keep your eyes healthy and your vision sharp.
If you’ve noticed changes in your vision or you’ve been putting off an eye exam, don’t wait to make an appointment. Call or click online to schedule a visit at Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, or Palmdale, California, today.