What An Initial Eye Examination Looks Like

If you are visiting your eye doctor for the first time, then you have to understand that the duration of your examination varies depending upon your age and your medical history.  When you are going to one of the LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles for an initial eye exam, you will have to go through a variety of tests. 

Today we have compiled a list for the eye and vision tests you can expect during your first ever eye exam. Please note that the tests mentioned below are followed by an initial examination of your medical history. 

Visual acuity tests

One of the pre-LASIK vision correction tests by the LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles includes visual acuity tests. It will measure the sharpness of your vision. These tests are performed via a projected eye chart and a hand-held small acuity chart. The projected eye chart is used to measure your distance visual acuity, and the small acuity chart measures your near vision. 

Color blindness test

During the early stages of your comprehensive eye exam, a screening test is performed to rule out color blindness. You might have a color vision impairment that you did not realize. Your doctor may screen your vision to determine if you have any color blindness by showing you some multicolored dotted pattern tests. 

If you don’t have a color deficiency, then you will be able to find the shape of the number within the dotted pattern easily. If you fail to see it, your doctor will perform other tests to confirm a possible diagnosis. 

Slit-lamp examination

This test is used to examine your lens, iris, cornea, eyelashes, eyelids, and fluid chambers between your iris and cornea. With an intense line of light, a slit lamp will magnify and illuminate the front of your eye, making the examination more comfortable. 

Retinal examination

A retinal examination is also called funduscopy or ophthalmoscopy. It allows your doctor to examine the retina of your eye, the underlying layer of blood, and the optic disk. 

Cover test 

A cover test assesses strabismus. The cover test is used to differentiate a heterophoria from a heterotopia. There are three kinds of cover tests, and all of them can be performed with fixation at a distance or close up. 

Ocular Motility (Eye Movement) Testing

This test is used to determine how well your eyes can focus on a moving object or how accurately they fixate on two separate targets. This test is also used in the evaluation process of patients undergoing Lasik surgery by Los Angeles surgeons. 

Stereopsis (Depth Perception) Test

This test creates a 3D image of your eye and helps the doctor identify if you have any binocular vision.

Retinoscopy

Retinoscopy estimates which lens powers will best correct distance-impaired vision. Based on how the light reflects from your eye, your doctor will get an approximation of the best eyeglass prescription to improve your eyesight. 

Autorefractor and Aberrometer

These tests are used to estimate the eyeglass prescription automatically. Modern autorefractors use advanced technologies and therefore, provide very accurate results. The procedure only takes a few seconds which also saves time! 

An aberrometer incorporates wavefront technology to find even the most obscure vision errors based on how light travels through your eyes. Aberrometers are mainly used for wavefront LASIK vision correction, but most of the doctors use this advanced technology in everyday eye examinations. 

The Glaucoma Test

The test starts with measuring pressure inside your eyes. Doctors usually perform a “puff-of-air” test. The machine calculates intraocular pressure based on the resistance of the eye to the puff of air. 

Pupil dilation

To analyze the internal structure of your eye, the doctor uses dilating drops. These drops help your pupil get larger. It takes 20 to 30 minutes for dilating drops to start working. 

Once the dilating drops have taken effect, the doctor will use various instruments to monitor the retina of your eye. Today modern retinal imaging devices can help doctors capture wide-angle and high-resolution shots of your retina without any dilating drops. 

Visual Field Test

This test can be used to identify any central and peripheral vision problems which are caused by stroke, glaucoma, or any other brain or eye problems. 

How long will my initial appointment be?

Based on the complexity of your situation and the number of tests, it takes an hour or two for the best LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles to perform a comprehensive eye exam. If your eyes are dilated, then you should plan for a 90-minute appointment. 

Since your eyes will become light-sensitive after they are dilated for the exam, be sure to use sunglasses to stay safe!