More Than a New Prescription: What a Comprehensive Eye Exam Really Checks

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More Than a New Prescription: What a Comprehensive Eye Exam Really Checks

By Dr. Amy Catalano Boyer, O.D.

Your glasses feel a little off. The menu at dinner is harder to read than it used to be, and you catch yourself squinting at road signs. So you finally book an eye exam, expecting to read a few letters off a chart and leave with a new prescription.

That part will happen. But what is the eye doctor actually looking for while you sit in that chair, and how often should you really go?

Why the Prescription Is the Smallest Part

Clear vision matters, but it’s only one piece of the visit. Many serious eye conditions cause no pain and no blurry vision in the early stages. Glaucoma is a good example. It slowly damages the optic nerve, and the side vision it takes fades so gradually that most people don’t notice until a lot of it is gone. A comprehensive eye exam is often the only place these quiet changes get caught.

What a Comprehensive Eye Exam Checks

A thorough exam usually covers four areas:

• How well you see. A visual acuity test checks sharpness at a distance and up close, and refraction fine-tunes your prescription for glasses or contact lenses.
• The pressure inside your eyes. High eye pressure is a key risk factor for glaucoma. Newer tools such as the Icare tonometer measure it with a quick, gentle touch, with no air puff.
• The back of the eye. The retina is one of the few places in the body where a doctor can see blood vessels directly. Changes there can point to macular degeneration or a retinal tear, and sometimes to diabetes or high blood pressure. Your eye doctor may use dilating drops or wide-field retinal imaging such as Optomap, which creates a picture that can be compared from year to year.
• The front of the eye. The eyelids, the cornea and the lens are checked under magnification. Early cataracts, dry eye and contact lens irritation often show up here.

Fox Run Eye Care in Greenland, NH, uses no-puff Icare pressure testing and Optomap retinal imaging as part of its comprehensive eye exams at Fox Run Eye Care.

Routine Checkup or Medical Visit?

Not every eye appointment is the same kind of visit. A routine exam starts with the calendar: your eyes feel fine, and it’s simply time for a checkup or new glasses. A medical visit starts with a problem, such as dry, irritated eyes that keep coming back or eye changes linked to diabetes. Knowing which one you need helps you book the right appointment the first time. Dr. Amy Catalano Boyer, O.D., explains the difference in her guide to routine and medical eye exams.

So, How Often Should You Go?

The American Optometric Association recommends a comprehensive eye exam at least every two years for adults ages 18 to 64, and every year from age 65. Some people need to go more often, including:

• People with diabetes
• Anyone with a family history of glaucoma
• Contact lens wearers
• Anyone who notices their vision changing

Feeling fine is not a reason to skip a visit. Several of the conditions above are found in people who had no idea anything was wrong.

When to See an Eye Doctor Sooner

Some symptoms shouldn’t wait for your next scheduled exam. Call your eye doctor right away if you notice:

• Sudden vision loss, or a shadow or “curtain” across part of your vision
• A burst of new floaters or flashes of light
• Double vision
• Eye pain, or redness that doesn’t go away
• Any injury to the eye

The Bottom Line

An eye exam does much more than update your glasses. It’s one of the simplest ways to catch problems while they’re still easier to manage. If it’s been a couple of years since your last one, consider this your sign to book it.

About the Author

Dr. Amy Catalano Boyer, O.D., is the founder of Fox Run Eye Care in Greenland, NH, where she practices with Dr. Susan Gallant-Behan, O.D. She has practiced optometry for over 25 years and earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Indiana University Bloomington.