Knowing What Your Eye Doctor Chicago Will Do At Your First Appointment
While eye exams are a necessary part of life, they can be stressful for those who have never gone or have a phobia of having their eyes touched. Knowing which tests your eye doctor Chicago is going to perform, along with why they will perform each of the tests, can help you feel more comfortable with your visit. Each visit to the eye doctor Chicago contains the same basic tests, which are preventative treatments for conditions like glaucoma, astigmatism, and far- or near-sightedness.
Before the eye exam for any necessary glasses or contacts, your eye doctor Chicago will want to look at the anatomy of your eye. Depending on the office you choose, there could be up to about five tests performed at this time. Most commonly, there will be tests for glaucoma, retinal detachment, and any other deformities or disorders that may be present.
There are multiple types of exams that an eye doctor Chicago can use to test for glaucoma. In one called the non-contact tonometry test, the patient will keep his or her eyes open while the doctor or technician uses the tonometer to blow a puff of air onto the surface of the eye. The tonometer is then able to measure the distance the surface of the eye is pushed by the puff, thereby gauging the likelihood of glaucoma in the patient. Another test for glaucoma is a little more rigid than the non-contact tonometry test. In a applanation tonometry test, the doctor or technician will numb the surface of the patient's eye. Then the office's staff member will use the handheld tonometer to measure the amoutn of pressure needed to flatten the surface of the eye. While the non-contact tonometry test can be performed at each annual visit, most eye doctors only perform the applanation tonometry test every other or every third visit, unless it is otherwise considered necessary due to other symptoms or a present diagnosis of glaucoma.
The next couple of tests that might be performed deal with mapping and inspecting the surface and inner-workings of the eye. One of these tests involves having the patient look into a camera while keeping his or her eyes open. The flash will allow a connected computer to display an image of the inside of the eye, revealing and structural damage that would remain unseen without the use of the camera. This technology is still relatively new, and many eye doctor offices still use dilated pupillary exams. In this type of exam, the doctor or technician will put drops in the eye which cause the pupil to dilate. The inside of the eye is then made more visible and problems with the inner components will become known.
After completing any necessary tests for the inside structures of the eyes, the doctor will begin the tests to assess what prescription of glasses or contacts is needed. These tests are called refraction tests, and they are the most commonly known tests given in eye doctor offices. The patient will look at a chart, either at a picture or a series of letters, meant to simulate a distance of 20 feet. If prescription eye wear are deemed necessary, the patient will then look through a series of lenses, telling the doctor which ones create a clearer picture. This will allow the doctor to determine what prescription of glasses or contacts are necessary.
A trip to the eye doctor should be quick, easy, and painless. The more the patient knows about the process, the less stressful the experience will be. Once the patient goes through the tests once, the experience gets even easier over time.
Before the eye exam for any necessary glasses or contacts, your eye doctor Chicago will want to look at the anatomy of your eye. Depending on the office you choose, there could be up to about five tests performed at this time. Most commonly, there will be tests for glaucoma, retinal detachment, and any other deformities or disorders that may be present.
There are multiple types of exams that an eye doctor Chicago can use to test for glaucoma. In one called the non-contact tonometry test, the patient will keep his or her eyes open while the doctor or technician uses the tonometer to blow a puff of air onto the surface of the eye. The tonometer is then able to measure the distance the surface of the eye is pushed by the puff, thereby gauging the likelihood of glaucoma in the patient. Another test for glaucoma is a little more rigid than the non-contact tonometry test. In a applanation tonometry test, the doctor or technician will numb the surface of the patient's eye. Then the office's staff member will use the handheld tonometer to measure the amoutn of pressure needed to flatten the surface of the eye. While the non-contact tonometry test can be performed at each annual visit, most eye doctors only perform the applanation tonometry test every other or every third visit, unless it is otherwise considered necessary due to other symptoms or a present diagnosis of glaucoma.
The next couple of tests that might be performed deal with mapping and inspecting the surface and inner-workings of the eye. One of these tests involves having the patient look into a camera while keeping his or her eyes open. The flash will allow a connected computer to display an image of the inside of the eye, revealing and structural damage that would remain unseen without the use of the camera. This technology is still relatively new, and many eye doctor offices still use dilated pupillary exams. In this type of exam, the doctor or technician will put drops in the eye which cause the pupil to dilate. The inside of the eye is then made more visible and problems with the inner components will become known.
After completing any necessary tests for the inside structures of the eyes, the doctor will begin the tests to assess what prescription of glasses or contacts is needed. These tests are called refraction tests, and they are the most commonly known tests given in eye doctor offices. The patient will look at a chart, either at a picture or a series of letters, meant to simulate a distance of 20 feet. If prescription eye wear are deemed necessary, the patient will then look through a series of lenses, telling the doctor which ones create a clearer picture. This will allow the doctor to determine what prescription of glasses or contacts are necessary.
A trip to the eye doctor should be quick, easy, and painless. The more the patient knows about the process, the less stressful the experience will be. Once the patient goes through the tests once, the experience gets even easier over time.
Source...