What to expect during your eye test?
What can you expect during your eye test?
Regardless of whether you wear spectacles or not, it is essential to have regular eye examinations. No matter what age, routine eye examinations by a qualified optometrist are important to evaluate your vision and ocular health. At Northbridge Optical, our comprehensive eye examinations are bulk-billed under medicare. If you are looking for an optometrist in the North Sydney area, come visit our qualified and experienced optometrist at Northbridge Optical.
1) Preparing for your appointment
When you arrive for your appointment, a team member from Northbridge Optical will confirm some details including your medicare number. If you currently wear spectacles or contact lens, we may ask for these details as they will be a reference point to see if there has been any changes to your vision from the previous eye test
2) Ocular and medical history
Before the eye examination, your optometrist will discuss your ocular and medical history to have a better understanding of your visual status. By having a clear history, it will allow your optometrist to provide better eye care. Your optometrist may ask about previous injuries or surgeries (such as cataract surgery), medical history (certain diseases/medication can affect your eye health) as well as family history of eye health.
By having a clear understanding of your eye health, your optometrist will tailor your eye examination specifically to your individual vision care and eye care needs.
3) Prescription Check
Your optometrist will measure your vision with your current spectacle or contact lens prescription as a baseline. Both your far and near vision will be tested and your optometrist will check for short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism.
If you are a contact lens user, your optometrist will need to do additional testing to check your contact lens prescription as this is not always the same as the spectacle prescription.
4) Ocular Health Check
Your eye health is checked under the slit lamp. Your eyes will be checked for any signs of dry eyes or inflammation. Your optometrist will also check the back of your eyes to check for signs of glaucoma, macular degeneration or any eye health issues.
The pressure of your eyes will be checked at your eye examination. Ocular diseases such as glaucoma can cause a rise in intraocular pressures which is why it is important to have your eyes checked regularly.
At Northbridge Optical, we offer Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT-Scans) which is a non-invasive imaging scan of the back of the eye which helps detect early signs of ocular diseases including glaucoma and macular degeneration.
5) Explanation & Recommendations
After all the testing is completed, your optometrist will discuss all the findings with you so that you can have a better understanding of any changes and why these changes may have occurred.
Your optometrist may make some recommendations specific to your visual, eye health and lifestyle needs.
6) Frame and lens selection (if required)
If spectacles are required, one of our friendly team members will help you with the frame selection. All the staff members at Northbridge Optical are well trained and will help you find a suitable frame fit and discuss the lens options recommended by the optometrist.
7) Follow up appointment
At Northbridge Optical, we recommend an annual check up. However, if you have been diagnosed or at risk of an ocular disease, your optometrist may ask to see you sooner to keep a closer eye on your eye health.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/eye-exam
https://www.essilor.com.au/vision/eye-exams-tests
https://www.visioninitiative.org.au/save-your-sight/what-is-an-eye-test