Guide to Eye Exams and Vision Screening

Details of a visual field test: Some patients with vision problems may have heard of visual field test, which may be called other names such as automated Perimetry, threshold test, SITA and so on. Performed probably for different reasons, the most purpose of a visual field test is to detect or diagnose glaucoma. In the early days, doctors used a tangent screen on the wall to conduct such a test. And later, a manual version of device called the Goldmann Bowl Perimeter was used. Nowadays, automated devices are available.
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Frequency and preparation of regular eye checkups: Many people do not value the importance of regular eye checkups when they have healthy eyes. However, once there is diagnosed an eye problem, it will be too late to appreciate the benefit of regular eye exams. Without eye exams on a regular basis, serious damage to the eyes may develop in an unnoticeable way. Just as the old saying goes, prevention is better than treatment. Actually, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has standardized the frequencies for individuals with different ages to receive checkups.
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Various eye tests for eye disease detection: Eye tests are critical for older people to maintain visual health. While regular eye tests can find out visual problems and suggest early treatments, a delayed eye test may lead to incurable vision problems and even blindness. Some older individuals reject to receive any eye test during decades because they “feel” good with their vision conditions. However, some chronic eye diseases may be deteriorating progressively, resulting in unfortunate visual results. In general, basic eye tests that give eye doctor essential information about visual functions include tests of eye pressures, visual field, dilated retinal, slit lamp and refraction.
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Eye exam coupons from different sources: Good vision is critical for daily lives because most things are perceived through the eyes. However, a large group of people are bothered by various eye problems now. Many people need eyeglasses or contact lenses at certain point in the life.
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The beneficial Seniors EyeCare program: In the modern times, an increasing number of people are bothered by various eye problems. Visual refractive errors including myopia and hyperopia are affecting hundreds of millions of people’s work and leisure entertainment.
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Wavefront measurements for higher-order aberrations: Currently, most of the doctors change the lenses with different powers in front of the patient and get his response, in order to get the exact prescription. In fact, the result is based on the patient’s subjective feeling. New wavefront technology can automatically identify vision errors from the way light waves travel through the eye, which is objective. Wavefront measurements can also provide more information than conventional eyeglasses or contacts prescription. Actually, wavefront-guided LASIK can provide sharper vision than conventional LASIK. It is estimated that wavefront measurement will replace conventional prescriptions.
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Screening and quantitative color blindness tests: During a comprehensive eye exam, you will always receive the Ishihara Color Vision Test for color blindness test, which is the most widely applied screening test invented by the Japanese ophthalmologist Shinobu Ishihara. The booklet of the test consists of typically 38 plates of many dots of various colors, brightness and sizes. Normal people can see clear numbers through these dots, which is beyond individuals with color blindness. Other abbreviated versions of this test comprise only 14 or 24 plates.
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Refractive errors and treatments: Some people may be diagnosed with refractive errors after an eye exam, which means the eyes can not refract or focus light properly. The eye’s ability to focus light is decisive for one’s vision sharpness. Refractive eyeglasses, contact lenses as well as refractive surgeries can be used to correct a refractive error.
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Optometrists and ophthalmologists: There are three types of eye professionals: optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians, the former two of which are eye doctors.
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Low contrast sensitivity tests and treatments: Good vision such as 20/20 does not mean satisfying contrast sensitivity. Common vision tests using black letters or numbers displayed against white backgrounds can not reflect your exact contrast sensitivity, since the real world is filled with grey shades. So that special contrast sensitivity testing is necessary.
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