Routine comprehensive eye exams are important for your overall health and well-being. If it’s been a while since you’ve visited your eye doctor, or you’ve never had an eye exam, it can be helpful to know what to expect when you visit the optometrist.
A comprehensive eye exam in Vineland includes several steps. During a regular appointment, Dr. Pernelli uses various tests, tools and procedures to examine your vision as well as the health of your eye and recommends corrective lenses or further treatment if needed. A typical eye examination can take between 30 – 45 minutes depending on the health of your eyes, quality of your vision and if you need corrective lenses.
Most of your routine eye exam consists of various tests used to evaluate your vision. These include the following:
Visual Field Screening – This test is usually performed by the eye care assistant, also known as a technician, with the assistance of a machine to analyze your visual field.
Tonometry – This test is important to determine your eye pressure in the evaluation for glaucoma.
Retinoscopy – This is a technique to obtain the objective measurement of your prescription. It provides a way to estimate what your vision prescription may be. It can either be performed by an automated machine or it can be done manually with a retinoscope. The retinoscope shines a bright light into the eye while Dr. Pernelli observes the reflection off your retina to determine your estimated prescription.
Refraction – This test uses a device called a phoropter to determine your corrective lens prescription. This instrument is used to test various lenses against your eyes, enabling Dr. Pernelli to determine the best power prescription for your eyeglasses or contacts. The phoropter measures the exact level of astigmatism, myopia or hyperopia you may have.
Slit Lamp – The slit lamp exam allows the eye to be analyzed from front to back. During this test in Vineland, Dr. Pernelli uses a special high-power microscope to examine the structures of your eye, testing for infections or ocular diseases. This test is beneficial for detecting conjunctivitis and other common eye issues as well as more serious ocular conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
If you are experiencing specific vision problems, additional tests and further examination may be required. Even if you are not experiencing vision problems, it is still a good idea to have your eyes examined regularly, ideally every year. To schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Dr. Pernelli in Vineland, contact Eye Institute of South Jersey, P.C. at 856-205-1100 or website today.