3 Tests To Expect During An Eye Exam

If you have ever had an eye exam, you may be aware that an optometrist needs to do all kinds of tests to ensure your eyes are healthy. Many of these tests are performed in order to catch refractive errors as well as the onset of eye disease. If you want to prepare yourself beforehand, here are three tests you can expect during your next eye exam.

1. Tonometry Test

Also known as the air puff test, a tonometry test is a diagnostic tool used to measure the intraocular pressure (IOP) inside your eye. During this test, you will need to keep your eye open while the optometrist uses a tool to blow a puff of air into your eye. Since it's hard to keep your eye open when something is coming directly at it, this test can be a little uncomfortable.

However, this test is important because if your eye pressure is too high, it could indicate you have an eye disease called glaucoma. This disease damages the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss.

2. Refraction Test

If you don't have perfect vision, you are certainly not alone. In fact, only an estimated 35 percent of adults have perfect vision. In order to help you achieve perfect vision, an optometrist can perform a refractive test. During a refractive test, the optometrist will have you look through a phoropter. The optometrist then switches the lenses inside the phoropter to different strengths.

Switching the lenses allows the optometrist to know how strong your eyeglass lenses or contact lenses need to be to help you achieve perfect vision. The strength of lenses you'll need is called your eye prescription. Besides determining nearsightedness or farsightedness, a refraction test also assesses your eyes for a condition called presbyopia, which occurs when the eyes have trouble focusing.

3. Peripheral Visual Field Test

Your eyes don't just see things right in front of you, they also see things on the sides. This side vision is also known as peripheral vision. Peripheral vision is important for motion detection, which is necessary for playing sports, driving in traffic, and having a general awareness of your surroundings.

During this test, an optometrist takes an object and moves it out of your peripheral vision. You will tell the optometrist when you're aware of the object and when it disappears. An optometrist might also put their hand in your peripheral vision and ask you many fingers they are holding up.