At Kesona Eye Centre, we offer comprehensive eye examination comprising a series of eye tests aimed at assessing the visual function of the eyes and detecting any risks or abnormalities that may require monitoring or treatment.
A comprehensive eye examination is a thorough assessment of the eye health and visual system of patients to determine their eye health status and unique visual needs. To avoid being taken unawares by a sight-threatening eye condition and maintain good vision for life, it is important to get one done once every or as recommended by your eye doctor. Learn more about the recommended schedule for a comprehensive eye examination.
Comprehensive eye examination involves a series of eye tests and procedures performed by the eye doctor at the clinic. The specific tests performed vary from one person to another according to their complaints and the eye doctor’s judgement of their visual needs. On a general note, however, the eye examination process involves the following:
History Taking
This is the first step of a comprehensive eye examination. During the process, the eye doctor obtains detailed information on your eye health from your perspective. S/he also gathers background information on medical issues that may be related to your eye health.
Visual acuity test
This eye test checks how well you can see things that are far and near you. It can help the doctor gauge the effects of any eye problem present and your possible prescription needs.
External examination
This involves observing the outer parts of your eyes, face, general appearance, and disposition for abnormalities. The doctor checks things like the size and shape of your eyeball; the appearance of your conjunctiva, sclera, eyelids, and lashes; how well your pupils react to light. This test can help diagnose external eye problems and also be a pointer to specific things the eye doctor should look out for in the subsequent tests.
Refraction
This test is done to determine whether or not you have a refractive error. It also determines the lens (glass) prescription that will compensate for the error and help you see clearly at all distances.
It has two parts; objective refraction and subjective refraction. The objective refraction is done with a piece of automated equipment that determines the refractive error in your eyes without relying on your feedback. With the result of the objective refraction, the doctor performs the subjective refraction. During the subjective refraction, the doctor requires your feedback as he places lenses in front of your eyes to arrive at the best prescription for you.
Binocular vision tests
These include tests that help determine how well your two eyes work together. They assess how coordinated and balanced your eye muscles are as they move. Binocular vision tests can diagnose eye problems like strabismus (squint), accommodative insufficiency (inability to sustain focus on near objects), and other eye muscle-related issues.
Ocular health assessment
This comprises tests that check for the presence of eye diseases. The tests that are performed depend on case history, the results of the previous tests, and the doctor’s assessment of what is needed. So, it usually varies from one person to another. Generally, however, it involves:
- Measuring eye pressure with an instrument known as the tonometer.
- Checking the structures in the eyes (e.g. the lens) and the fluid around them for abnormalities.
- Examining the back of the eyes to assess the health of the retina, optic nerve head, and blood vessels.
- Visual field screening, to determine the extent to which you can see the things around you with your eyes focused on an object directly in front of you.
Supplemental tests
These are additional tests that are performed to help the diagnosis and treatment of an eye problem. They are done when there is a need to confirm or rule out an eye disease or get a better or more in-depth assessment of the condition.
Examples of supplemental tests include:
- Automated perimetry done for a more detailed evaluation of the visual field.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) done for a better assessment of the nerve fibre layers of the optic nerve and retina.