What to Expect at a Vision Checkup

If it's been awhile since you've been to an optometry center in La Puente, you may not be sure what to expect at your vision checkup. There are a lot of different tests and examinations that your optometrist may perform depending on your age, general eye health, and the amount of time that has passed since your last appointment. This article will give you a brief overview of some things that you might experience at your appointment, so you have an idea of what to expect.

Distance Vision Test

This is the part of your appointment that you will most likely already expect. The doctor will sit you down in a chair and ask you to read lines from a vision chart across the room. They may ask you to cover one eye as you do it, or they may put a large device in front of your eyes and have you look at the letters through various lenses. If the latter occurs, they will likely flip through several different lenses and ask you which ones make the letters on the chart clearer for you.

When asked which lens is better, it's important to remember that there is no right or wrong answer, so don't overthink it. If you need to, ask the optometrist to flip between the 2 lenses again to give you another look. If you feel that the 2 lenses are very similar, say so; this is also an acceptable answer and your optometrist will likely move on to another set of lenses without hesitation.

Near Vision Test

Your optometrist may also test your near vision. Typically, you will keep the same device mentioned above in front of your eyes, and the optometrist will hold a smaller version of the vision chart in front of you. You will read off the card and go through much of the same process as you did for your distance vision test.

This test will determine if you need reading glasses to improve your vision of up-close items like books and computer screens. However, it's more likely that you will need glasses for distance vision than near vision. Trouble with near vision usually develops later in life, which is why so many elderly individuals need reading glasses.

Pupil Dilation

If it's been some time since your last appointment, your optometrist may also dilate your pupils. They will do this by putting a few drops of a yellowish substance in each eye. After a few minutes, your pupils will dilate, or enlarge to the point that they almost completely fill the iris region of your eye. Your optometrist will then examine your eyes through the same machine that was used for your vision tests.

Dilating your pupils allows the optometrist look at parts of your eyes that they wouldn't normally be able to see. The amount of time that it takes for your eyes to dilate can also tell them a little about the overall health of your eyes. It's important that you know your eyes will be very sensitive to light after being dilated, and you won't be able to focus on up-close items. So bring a pair of sunglasses, and don't plan to be reading any books or sending any text messages for an 1-2 hours after your appointment.

Eye Pressure Test

Occasionally, optometrists will perform a simple test that allows them to test the viscous pressure of your eye. They will do this by sitting you in front of a machine and having you stare at a dot in front of you. The machine will then shoot a puff of air into your eye, measuring the amount of resistance the air encounters. It's not a pleasant experience, but it's an important test that can help determine if you're at immediate risk of several eye diseases.

Now that you know what you can expect at an optometry center in La Puente, be sure to make an appointment right away.

Source : articlesbase.com