Eye Exams
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There are a number of tests that your eye doctor may conduct during your normal routine eye exam to ensure your vision is at its best. The two most common tests are:
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Visual Acuity Test: A Visual Acuity Test is a routine part of an eye examination performed to determine the smallest letters a patient can read on a standardized chart that is 20 feet away. You will be asked to remove your contact lenses or glasses and gently cover one eye with the palm of your hand while reading aloud the smallest line of letters you can read on the chart. The test is performed on each eye, one at a time.
Your visual acuity will be expressed in a fraction. The top number represents the distance you stand from the chart, while the bottom number represents the distance at which a person with normal eyesight could read the same line you read correctly. For example, normal vision is considered 20/20. If your visual acuity is 20/40, then this indicates that the line that you correctly read at 20 feet can be read by a person with normal vision from 40 feet away. -
Visual Field Test: A Visual Field Test will allow your eye doctor to see the full horizontal and vertical range of what you are able to see peripherally. They determine the potential of blind spots (scotomas) occurring, which could indicate eye diseases.
A Confrontation Visual Field Test is the most common type of field test used by eye doctors. You will be asked to cover one eye while focusing on a specific target object, such as the doctor, and then you will be asked to describe images in his/her peripheral vision. If an eye disease is suspected, further comprehensive, more formal types of tests may be required.
For more information regarding eye testing, please see our Testing Services page.
Refraction is the bending of light, such as the way your eye bends light in a particular way to supply your vision. When the shape of your eye is altered, it can affect your eyesight in many ways. These are known as refractive errors, and can include nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism.