What is an eye exam?
An eye exam by one of the doctors at James N. Cohn M.D. & Associates is more than a simple vision screening: A comprehensive eye exam at James N. Cohn M.D. & Associates begins by discussing your medical history, including any past vision or eye problems.
This is followed by a series of evaluations for the various aspects of your visual function and eye health.
How is an eye exam performed?
To evaluate your eyes and vision, the doctors at James N. Cohn M.D. & Associates perform several diagnostic tests, including:
- Visual Acuity: By having your read letters that gradually get smaller, visual acuity measures vision sharpness in your eyes.
- Visual Field: Visual field tests check for blind spots in your peripheral vision while you look straight ahead.
- Pupillary Reactions: Through the use of light and close objects, the reactions of your pupils are analyzed.
- Cover Test: Cover tests measure eye movement by having you focus on small, far away objects with one eye covered at a time.
- Alignment: During alignment tests, you’re asked to follow a moving object with your eyes.
- Retinoscopy: Retinoscopy involves you looking at a target while light is shined in your eyes and a machine measures the way the light gets reflected.
- Refraction: Refraction tests help determine the exact prescription for your eyeglasses by asking you to decide the best of several lenses.
- Glaucoma: Glaucoma tests check the fluid pressure inside your eyes with an instrument called a tonometer or Tonopen.
- Slit Lamp: Slit lamps help the doctors at James N. Cohn M.D. & Associates examine the health of your eyes by highly magnifying your eye to check for problems in your cornea, iris, lens, and anterior chamber.
- Retinal Examination: Retinal examinations allow for examination of the back of your eyes, including your retina, retinal blood vessels, vitreous, and optic nerve head. Retinal examinations often include pupil dilation.
When should you have an eye exam?
Your age, health, and family history of eye problems determine how frequently you need an eye exam.
A child’s first comprehensive eye exam should occur between ages three and five. After that, if your child doesn’t have any symptoms of vision problems and there is no family history of eye issues, your child should have an eye exam every year or two.
Adults who have no symptoms of vision problems should have an eye exam every few years. However, if you wear eyeglasses or contacts, have a family history of eye problems, or suffer from chronic health issues known to affect your vision, you should have eye exams more often.
Whether you’re experiencing symptoms of a problem, or it’s been some time since you’ve had an eye exam, call or make an appointment online today at James N. Cohn M.D. & Associates in Fremont, California.
