In addition to assessing your visual acuity, your eye care provider will test for common eye diseases, assess how your eyes are functioning together, and more.
Serious health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure are often first detected during an eye exam.
Your optometrist will determine what tests are needed based on your medical history. However, most comprehensive eye exams include the following:
Visual acuity – to test the sharpness of your vision, usually with an eye chart
Visual fields test – to check for blind spots in your vision
Refraction – to determine your exact eyeglass prescription
Slit lamp exam and Retinal photos – To evaluate overall eye health
How often should I get a comprehensive eye exam?
Most eye care professionals recommend yearly eye exams. But it depends on your age, risk factors, and whether or not you wear corrective lenses.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends children have their eyes examined at 6 months old, three years old, at the start of school, and every year until age 18.
For adults, the AOA recommends a comprehensive eye exam every year for ages 18 to 60 at minimum and annual exams for seniors age 61 and older.
What about contact lens exams?
A comprehensive eye exam and a contact lens exam are two separate services. A contact lens fitting, which ensures the correct lens type and size for your eyes, is not included in the comprehensive exam. We frequently offer the contact lens exam immediately following your eye exam, but you may be asked to schedule a separate, dedicated appointment based on availability and the complexity of the fitting.
