Comprehensive Eye Exams
A comprehensive eye exam includes several tests and procedures to evaluate the health of your eyes and the quality of your vision. These tests range from simple ones, like having you read an eye chart, to complex ones, such as using a high-powered lens to examine the health of the tissues inside your eyes.
How is a comprehensive eye examination different from a vision screening?
Specialized equipment and procedures are not available for a vision screening program, but they are needed to evaluate eyes and vision adequately. Only a doctor of optometry or ophthalmologist can conduct a comprehensive eye and vision examination. These doctors have specialized training to make a definitive diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Patients at risk include:
- A personal or family history of ocular disease.
- Belonging to specific racial and ethnic groups.
- Systemic health conditions with potential ocular manifestations.
- Occupations that are visually demanding or have a high potential of being hazardous to the eyes.
- Taking prescription or nonprescription drugs with ocular side effects
- Functional vision in only one eye.
- Wearing contact lenses.
- Eye surgery or previous eye injury.
- High or progressive refractive error.
- Other eye-related health concerns or conditions.
- Patients who have undergone refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK, SMILE) should still have an eye exam every 1-2 years to monitor overall ocular health.