Before you see the doctor, there are usually a few tests done as part of your comprehensive eye exam. These are pretty easy and quick, plus there’s no air puff done here! Let’s take a deeper look into each step so you feel more confident before your next annual exam.
Auto-refractor: Commonly known for the hot air balloon image, the auto-refractor measures the length and curvature of the eye to give the doctor a starting point of your prescription. You just focus on the hot air balloon while the instrument adjusts the image in and out of focus for you. This instrument also gives the doctor information about the type of contact lens that may best fit your eyes.
Tonometer: Did I mention already we don’t do the puff of air here? We use a handheld device, called iCare tonometer, to measure the pressure of your eye. It might feel a bit weird, some would say it's an eyelash tickling sensation, but it’s harmless and over in less than a minute! We check your eye pressure yearly to ensure you aren’t developing signs of glaucoma, which is a condition that has no symptoms but can lead to blindness of left undetected.
Digital Retinal Imaging Screening: If you’ve ever wondered what’s going on inside your eye, we have an instrument for that! We use a retinal camera to take a quick picture using a bright flash. You simply focus on a green x while the instrument does its thing. This imaging lets the doctor know if there are any underlying diseases within the eye that you normally would not be aware of, which can be difficult to detect yourself as there are no pain receptors in the back of your eye.
OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) Scan: We now offer the Wellness scan as well as a part of your annual eye exam. Vision threatening diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy often have no outward signs or symptoms in the early stages, so our doctors have begun using state-of-the-art technology to assess the health of your eyes. These scans are quick and non-invasive and allow the doctor to see a highly detailed view of the inner lining of the eye, often without the need of dilation. The OCT takes scans of the layers of your retina and measure their thickness. This unique technology can help our doctors detect vision threatening and systemic diseases in their very early stages, when they are most treatable. You just focus on a green cross while the instrument takes the scans; easy right?
These are some of the common tests we do in our office and they’re pretty painless and breezy to do. If you have any questions prior to your annual exam, please feel free to reach out to us to further clarify any of the tests listed above!
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