Contact Lenses ABC

 

contact lensesEye Exams Explained What the Doctors are Looking for

Do you get nervous when you think about going to the eye doctor? Most people think that compared to a general practitioner visit, a trip to the eye doctor is a piece of cake. However, there are some people and children who get a little freaked out when it comes to getting an eye exam. Most of the anxiety comes from not knowing exactly what the eye professional is doing or what they are looking for. They sit you in a darken room, ask you to read letters no one could possibly see, and then push a large contraption in front of your face and ask you to look through it. It can be intimidating and alarming to some. Eye exams should not be something you fear however. If you want to know exactly whats going on during the exam, read these explanations before your visit.
You will feel better knowing exactly what to expect.

One of the first tests your doctor will perform during your eye exam is the retinoscopy. This is where the doctor dims the lights in the room and asks you to stare at a large letter board that almost always starts with a large E. When you are looking toward the E, the doctor will shine a light at your eye and often will flip a lens filled machine in front of your eye as well. The way the light reflects from your eye tells the doctor your prescription.

Next, the doctor will perform a refraction test, which is the portion of the test that will determine your exact prescription. A phoropter is placed in from of your eye and you will be asked to distinguish between many different lens choices. The doctor will likely ask you which lenses appear clearer than others. This whole process helps determine your level of astigmatism, helps figure out if you are farsighted or nearsighted, and will detect presbyopia.

A glaucoma test is often performed as well at your eye exam. This test has several different variations. Your doctor will probably use the air test, which is technically called the non-contact tonometer. The test measures the pressure in your eye, which can tell the doctor whether or not you have glaucoma or not. You will sit in a chair and rest your chin in a rest. You will push your forehead forward against a forehead rest. Next the machine will shine a light at your eye and you will feel a small puff of air in your air. This is a painless test. Most people are only startled slightly by the puff of air. Many do not even feel it however and will only hear the noise that came with the puff of air.

When you get an eye exam, the doctor will not only be able to tell if you need a prescription or not, but they will also be able to see other things about your health. The eye doctor will notice if there are any irregularities in your eye, other than vision. They also can often detect warning signs of high blood pressure and diabetes. Getting an eye exam can help you see better as well as alert you to any other problems you may be unaware of.

If you have children who are a bit afraid of the eye doctor, consider calling ahead to talk with the nurse or doctor about your childs anxiety. Most doctors will have special charts they use for children, especially if your child is not old enough to read letters. They will not likely do the glaucoma test either, so you wont have to worry about your child being startled by that portion of the visit. Most often the doctor will show them pictures and have them point in order to get the results they need. Explaining to your child exactly what will occur during the visit is the best way to lessen their anxiety about the trip. Keep in mind that adults can also have anxiety when it comes to the eye doctor, so dont feel bad if you are one of them. Just stay calm and know that this is one of the few medical exams in life that is completely painless. There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of and better sight to gain.

Why Sticking with Contacts is the Better Option over LASIK
What a marvel the thought is to have your nearsighted corrected while you sleep with no need for surgery or wearing eyewear during the day. Well it is a reality folks and it is here in America as well many other countries. While you are in bed at...

Contact and Glasses Prescriptions are not Created Equal
If you wear both contacts and glasses, you probably already know that the prescriptions for each are a little different from one another. Although they are similar, contact prescriptions vary due to the nature of the contact lens itself. Of...

Uses for Cosmetic Contact Lenses
Cosmetic contact lenses are designed to alter the appearance of the eye, instead of improving vision as is the case with corrective contact lenses. The first cosmetic lenses were designed for a Playboy model posing in a Halloween edition of the...

Contact Lens Maintenance Products What Do They Really Do?
Proper maintenance of contact lenses is a must for every lens wearer. Well maintained lenses will last longer and will also help guard against infections or other health problems. It is necessary to have the proper maintenance products for contact...

Popping Peepers How your Contacts Can Accentuate your Eyes
Many people who are interested in a fresh look are looking toward using color contact lenses in order to change their appearance or to accentuate their eyes. Nearly all healthy people are able to wear contact lenses without risk of complications,...

 

Eight Things to Consider when Handling your Contacts
20/20 - Not Just another Number
A Science Lesson in How Contacts Correct Vision Problems
Anti-Reflective Coatings for Glasses Necessary or Not
Are Reading Glasses Right for You?
Brief Background on Contacts and why they are so popular
Computer Vision Syndrome: Contacts or Glasses a Solution?
Contact and Glasses Prescriptions are not Created Equal
Contact Lens Maintenance Products What Do They Really Do?
Contact Lens Options for People with Astigmatism
Contacts for Kids Is It An Option?
Eye Exams Explained What the Doctors are Looking for
Eye Solutions for Near-Sighted Seers
Eyeglass Options - Are Those Extras Really Necessary?
Family Eye Exams Knowing When the Deed Should Be Done
FAQs of RGPs Whats the Deal with Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses?
Far Out! Corrective Steps for Far-Sighted Seers
Five Advantages of Contacts over Glasses
Five Benefits from Wearing Sunglasses
Five Factors in Choosing your Eyeglass Frames
Five Questions to Ask your Eye Doctor during an Exam
Getting Chummy with the Eye Chart What It Means to your Vision
Glasses and Contacts Make Quite a Team When You Use Them Together
Guidelines for Choosing your Contacts
Hard vs. Soft Contact Lenses Whats the Difference?
How Lens Color Could Alter Your Sunglasses Benefits
Is Contacts Right For Me? Some Basic Tips that Help You Decide
Making the Switch The Adjustment Process from Glasses to Contacts
Near and Far How to Know Which Sight You Have
Ophthalmologist vs. Optometrist - Differences and Similarities
Over the Counter or Prescription Reading Glasses Revisited
Picking Lenses Who Knew There Were So Many!
Popping Peepers How your Contacts Can Accentuate your Eyes
Prepping Protocol for Eye Exams What You Should Do Before Your Office Visit
Prescription Polarized Sunglasses What Are The Benefits?
Pros and Cons of Daily Contact Lenses vs. Extended Wear Contact Lenses
Protein Poses Problems to Contact Wearers
Reflections of the Way Our Sight Used to Be Why Our Eyesight Changes over Time
Selecting Safety Eyeglasses for Work
The Basics of Lazy Eye Problems and Solutions for this Affliction
The Differences between Vision and Eyesight
The Drawbacks of Wearing Contact Lenses
The Finger Factor Hints and Tips for Inserting Your Contact Lenses
The Latest and Greatest in Vision Correction
The Scoop on Bifocal Contacts
Tips on How to Choose Your Prescription Sunglasses
Transitions - Advantages these Glasses over Normal Prescription
Uses for Cosmetic Contact Lenses
Whats Presbyopia and What Eye Care Options are Available?
Why Sticking with Contacts is the Better Option over LASIK