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Frequently Asked Questions

The Eye Examination

We all rely on our eyes and good eyesight in almost every aspect of our daily lives. Access to information through reading or television depends on clear vision, whilst life itself can depend on the ability to see properly when driving or just walking in busy streets.

A significant proportion of people do not, however, have their eyes examined at regular intervals whilst many people have never had an eye examination.

Part of the reason is that eyes, unlike teeth, do not normally let you know in an obvious way when something is wrong. Often, because sight deterioration can be very gradual, people genuinely do not notice that they are not seeing as well as they could. Regular examinations are important as the sooner a visual problem is detected, the greater the chance of successful treatment - this is particularly true with young children and the elderly.

More than just identifying whether your eyesight needs correcting, the eye examination can reveal a number of other underlying health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes. It is a vital health check that should be part of everyone's normal health regime.

Unless otherwise advised, you should have an eye examination every two years. It may be necessary to have them more frequently, depending on your age and medical history, An eye examination is carried out by an optometrist or ophthalmic medical practitioner and usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes.

It is very important that your practitioner knows why you are having your eyes examined. It may just be your routine check-up or you may be there for a specific reason such as VDU screening. If you are having an eye examination because you are experiencing problems with your eyes or your vision your practitioner will need to know what symptoms you have, how long you have had them and whether any changes have happened suddenly, or slowly over a period of time.

You must also tell your practitioner if you are taking any medication, other medical information such as whether you suffer headaches or have any close relatives with a history of eye problems, and also whether you currently wear spectacles and/or contact lenses.

Your eyes will be examined both externally and internally. This will enable an assessment to be made of the general health of your eyes and identify any other underlying medical problems. The interior of your eye will be examined using an ophthalmoscope, an instrument which shines a light through the pupil, allowing a detailed examination of the internal structures including the retina. Other tests frequently carried out are, for example, tonometry (measuring the internal pressure of the eye for glaucoma) and visual field assessment.

If the examination shows that you could benefit from spectacles, the practitioner will ask you to look through a variety of trial lenses and ask you to express an opinion on the effect that the lenses have on the quality and clarity of your vision.

It is essential that your eye movements and co-ordination are checked to make sure that both eyes are working together effectively and that undue stress is not being placed on them. This is particularly important for those who use VDUs.

Additional information which will help your practitioner to make an accurate assessment of your requirements is, for example, your occupation, whether you play sports or have any hobbies.

Your practitioner will now have a detailed knowledge of the health of your eyes, how good your vision is, and any special requirements you may need. This information will be explained to you, but remember, if you don't understand anything or if you require more information please ask your practitioner who will be delighted to help.

At the end of the eye examination you will be advised of the appropriate date for your next appointment and handed your spectacle prescription.