A comprehensive eye exam is relatively simple and comfortable and shouldn't take more than 45 to 90 minutes. The exam should include checks on the following:

• Your medical history. First, your doctor  will ask you for an assessment of your vision and your overall health. Your family's medical history, whether you wear corrective lenses or whether you are on any medication will also be of interest to your ophthalmologist.

 

• Your visual acuity. This is the part of an eye exam people are probably most familiar with. Your ophthalmologist will ask you to read a standardised eye chart to determine how well you see at various distances. The test is performed on one eye at a time by covering the eye not being tested.

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• Your pupils. Your doctor may evaluate how your pupils respond to light by shining a bright beam of light through your pupils. Common pupillary reaction to this stimulus is to constrict (become smaller). If your pupils respond by dilating (widening) or there is a lack of response either way, this may indicate an underlying problem.

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• Your side vision. Loss of side vision is a symptom of glaucoma. Because you may lose side vision without knowing it, this test can identify eye problems that you aren't even aware of.

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• Your eye movement. This test, called ocular motility, evaluates the movement of your eyes. Your ophthalmologist will want to ensure proper eye alignment and ocular muscle function. Common tests measure the eyes and their ability to move quickly in all directions and slowly track objects.

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• Your prescription for corrective lenses. You will be seated and asked to view an eye chart through a device called a phoroptor, which contains different lenses. The phoroptor can help determine the best eyeglass or contact lens prescription to correct any refractive error you may have, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

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• Your eye pressure. This test, called tonometry, measures the pressure within your eye (intraocular eye pressure, or IOP). Elevated IOP is a sign of glaucoma. The test involves gentle application of a pressure-sensitive tip near your eye after placing an anesthetic numbing drop to ensure complete comfort during this important part of the exam.

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• The front part of your eye. A type of microscope called a slit lamp is used to illuminate the front part of the eye, including the eyelids, cornea, iris and lens. This can reveal whether you are developing cataracts or have any scars or scratches on your cornea.

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• Your retina and optic nerve. Your ophthalmologist will put drops in your eye to dilate, or widen, your eye. This will allow him or her to thoroughly examine your retina and optic nerve, located at the back of your eye, for signs of damage from disease. Your eyes might be temporarily sensitive to light for a few hours after they are dilated.

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