What to expect at an eye test?

As we all know, our eyes are a very important organ in our body, so it is important that we take care of them like we do everything else! We cannot stress enough the importance of an eye test.

It is recommended that you get an eye test every two years. Eyes are always changing, so even if your last eye health check showed no problems it is still important to get them checked. Many people believe that problems with eyes only occur in older people; this is not the case. It is important that even young children have a regular eye health check while their body is still developing.

By having an eye test, your ophthalmologist can help to identify any problems that you may have with your sight, while also looking at your eye health to ensure that you are not at risk of developing any eye related conditions.

When you come for an eye test you should come with any prescription glasses (or recent prescription) that you currently use. Once you get in to the examination room you will be asked if you have experienced any differences with your vision. Most patients will have a painless eye pressure test during the eye consultation. This can help to point out if you have a disease called glaucoma (link). A digital scan of your retina may also be taken to keep a record of any changes.

An eye health check will usually take around 15-30 minutes to complete. During this time, you may undergo a number of different parts of the eye test to assess all aspects of your vision. This includes:

  • A look at both your far and near vision
  • Signs that may suggest certain eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma
  • A general eye health check

Once the eye health check has finished, your ophthalmologist will have a clear understanding of anything that may be affecting your vision. They will advise you on the best steps to take going forward. This can mean wearing glasses or possibly changing some of your lifestyle factors (link to life style factors that can affect our vision) that could be affecting your vision.

If you would like to book an appointment with HSEH please contact us.