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It's important for adults to have eye exams on a regular basis to check for problems. Regular eye exams are critical for detecting:

Preparing for Your Eye Exam

When you call to make an appointment for an eye exam, briefly and clearly describe any vision problem you're having.

Before you go, list questions for the eye doctor. Be prepared to discuss any drugs you're taking and your (and your family's) eye health history.

When you go, take your glasses and/or contact lenses, if you use them, and sunglasses for the trip home with your pupils dilated.

During Your Eye Exam

Before your eye exam, the eye doctor -- called an opthalmologist -- or an office staff member will take your medical and vision history.

Your eye exam may take from half an hour to an hour. It will evaluate both your vision and the health of your eyes.

You'll likely have all or most of the following eye tests (you may also have more specialized eye tests):

Eye muscle movement test. To test muscle strength and control, the doctor will ask you to visually track a target in different directions and observe your eye movements.

Cover test. This is a check for how well your eyes work together. As you stare at a small target some distance away, the doctor will cover and uncover each eye to observe how much your eyes move, watching for an eye that turns away from the target (strabismus). The test may be repeated with a target close to you.

External exam and pupillary reactions. The doctor will watch the reactions of your pupils to light and objects at close distance. At the same time, the doctor will check the exterior eye, looking at things such as the condition of the white of the eyes and the position of your eyelids.

Visual acuity test. You'll sit in front of an eye chart, with letters that get smaller as you read down each line. You cover each eye in turn and, using the other eye, read aloud, going down the chart, until you can't read the letters anymore.

Retinoscopy. The eye doctor may shine a light in your eyes and flip lenses in a machine (phoropter) that you look through while staring at a large target, such as a big "E" or the doctor may use an automated machine (refractor) for the same purpose. By checking the way light reflects from your eyes, the doctor gets an approximate idea of the lens prescription you need now.

Refraction testing. For your exact lens prescription, the eye doctor may use the results of the computerized refractor or he or she may fine-tune the prescription manually by asking you to respond to questions such as, "Which is better, this or that?" while flipping back and forth between different lenses. If you don't need corrective lenses, you won't have this test.

Slit-lamp (biomicroscope). The slit lamp magnifies and lights up the front of your eye. The eye doctor uses it to detect several eye diseases and disorders by examining your cornea, iris, lens, and anterior chamber.

Retinal examination Using an ophthalmoscope and pupil dilation, the eye doctor examines the back of your eyes: retina, retinal blood vessels, vitreous, and optic nerve head.

Glaucoma testing. This tests whether the fluid pressure inside your eyes is within a normal range. Painless and taking just a few seconds, the test can be done several ways.

The applanation tonometer test. This is the most accurate. With drops numbing your eyes, you stare directly ahead. The eye doctor barely touches the front surface of each eye with a glowing, bright-blue tool to measure the pressure. The "puff of air" or non-contact tonometer test. While you focus on a target, you get a small "puff" of air in each eye. Resistance to the air puff indicates the pressure.
 

Pachymetry. This test uses ultrasound to measure corneal thickness. Thin corneas can lead to falsely low pressure readings and thick corneas can lead to falsely high pressure readings. This test is done just once to create a baseline for future testing. Pachymetry may be needed if you are being considered for corneal surgery.

Pupil dilation (enlargement). With your pupils fully enlarged, the eye doctor will examine the inside of your eyes with different instruments and lights. The pupil-enlarging drops for this part of your eye exam start to work after about 20-30 minutes, making your eyes more sensitive to light and blurring your vision. These effects may last for several hours or longer so it's important to bring a pair of sunglasses to your exam for the ride home.

Visual field test (perimetry). Your visual field is the area you can see in front of you without moving your eyes. Using one of three tests, the eye doctor "maps" what you see at the edges (periphery) of your visual field, using this map in diagnosing your eye condition.

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