What to expect during an eye exam.

Before your eye exam, the eye doctor or a staff member will take your medical and vision history.

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

The eye exam will usually consist of the following tests:

  • Visual Acuity Test: You will be asked to read the smallest line you can read on an eye chart in the distance, and a reading card at a typical reading distance.
  • Eye Muscle Movement: To test the function and control of the Extra Ocular Muscles.
  • Cover Test: To check how well your eyes work together. Helps determine if any eye turns in or out.
  • External Exam and Pupillary Reactions: The reaction of your pupils to light and focusing at near objects is observed. The exterior of the eye and lids are also examined.
  • Refraction: This is the test that determines your exact eyeglass prescription. The initial starting point is determined by a computerized refractor and then the results are fine tuned to your final prescription by asking you to respond to questions such as.."Which is better...lens 1 or lens 2". This eyeglass prescription is also what is used to determine a contact lens prescription, which is different than an eyeglass prescription.
  • Slit Lamp (Biomicroscope) Examination: The slit lamp allows the doctor to get a highly magnified view of the cornea, iris, lens, anterior chamber, and conjunctiva to thoroughly evaluate the health of your eye and detect any signs of disease. With the help of external lenses, the doctor can also view the inside of your eye.
  • Glaucoma Testing (Tonometry): This tests whether the fluid pressure inside your eyes (intraocular pressure) is within normal range. The test is painless and takes only a few seconds to perform. You typically have no warning signs of glaucoma until you already have significant vision loss. For this reason, routine eye exams that include tonometry are essential to rule out early signs of glaucoma and protect your eyesight.
  • Retinal Examination (Ophthalmoscopy): Using an ophthalmoscope, the eye doctor examines the back of your eyes: retina, retinal blood vessels, macula, vitreous body, and optic nerve head.
  • Pupil Dilation: To obtain a better view of the eye's internal structures, you may have your pupils dilated. The drops take about 25 minutes to effectively work and you may notice difficulty focusing on objects up close.
  • You should bring sunglasses with you to your eye exam, to minimize glare and light sensitivity on the way home. If you don't have sunglasses, the staff will supply you with a disposable pair. Pupil dilation is important for people with risk factors for eye disease, because it allows the most thorough evaluation of the health of the inside of your eyes.

We have 3 fully equipped examination rooms, a preliminary testing room, and 3 rooms for advanced diagnostic procedures.

Exam Rooms

Lawrenceville Eye Care, LLC

Practice Limited to the Eye