Routine eye exams are to your eyes what a regular checkup is to your overall body and health. You should get them regularly, even if you don’t wear corrective lenses or have an eye issue that needs monitoring and treatment. They’re a key way to keep tabs on your eye and overall health.
An eye exam is a procedure where an eye care specialist checks your eyesight, vision and eye health. This noninvasive process is something that everyone needs, not just people who need glasses or contacts. You may need eye exams more frequently if you have certain medical conditions.
Not all eye exams are alike. Some exams have very specific purposes, while others are more general. There are also different types of eye care specialists who do eye exams, including:
Opticians are also eye care professionals, but they don’t do eye exams. They help you pick your eyeglasses, take eye and head measurements, check and adjust your eyeglass fittings, and more. Many of the things they do contribute to your eye exam.
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One way to classify eye exams is by the purpose (why you’re getting an exam).
There are 13 different parts to a complete (comprehensive) eye exam.
Seven of the eye exam components revolve around how your eyes work and how they appear on the outside. Those components are:
Five of the eye exam components involve your eye care specialist using a slit lamp. This is a special device with a light and magnifying lens that your specialist uses to look inside your eyes. A slit lamp exam can happen with or without drops that dilate (widen) your pupils.
The 13th eye exam component revolves around how well your brain is working. It’s not always part of an eye exam, but it can be very important in some circumstances. And in many cases, your specialist can do this part of the assessment just by making conversation with you.
For this part, your eye specialist looks for the following:
While those questions might seem strange or silly for an eye exam, there are times when they’re necessary. That’s because eye symptoms can sometimes indicate brain issues.
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A routine or follow-up eye exam usually doesn’t need much preparation. It’s like an annual checkup where you go to the appointment, have the exam and then return to your daily routine.
One thing you should do is take a complete list of all your medications, vitamins and supplements. Your eye care specialist needs to know these as part of your exam, even if you take them for reasons that seem unrelated to your eyes. You should also bring your current glasses, contact lenses and previous written prescriptions to the exam.
During an eye exam, your eye care specialist will ask questions about your vision, any changes or issues you’ve noticed recently, any recent medical events or life changes, etc. Then, they’ll run you through several of the different exam components mentioned above. They may recommend other tests, depending on your situation. Your eye care specialist can tell you more about these additional test options.
Dilating your pupils makes it easier for your eye care specialist to see inside your eye. Your provider will dilate your pupils using medications that temporarily paralyze this muscle, causing it to relax and open up. This makes it easier for them to look inside your eye and check for any issues that wouldn’t be visible otherwise.
If you do have a refractive error and need corrective lenses, your eye care specialist will also measure the error in each eye. That lets them write a prescription for eyewear that can correct the error. They can also take specific measurements of your eyeball itself, which are necessary if you want to wear contact lenses.
After a routine eye exam, your eye care specialist will explain what they found and what it means for you. If they found that you need corrective lenses, they’ll also give you a paper or digital copy of the prescription. Federal regulations require that they give you a paper or digital copy, even if you don’t want it. A few states also require that the paper copy of the prescription include your pupillary distance (the distance between the pupils of your eyes), which you need to buy glasses online. Many states don’t require providers to give you that measurement, but some providers will give it to you if you ask.
If your eye care specialist dilated your pupils, you’ll have trouble focusing your eyes on things close up — like your phone, computer screen or books — for a while after your exam. Lights, daylight and device screens may also feel uncomfortably bright or painful.
You can bring sunglasses with you to your eye exam and wear them when the exam is over, which can help. Your eye care specialist’s office may also have temporary shades or eyeglasses covers that you can use. But you may want to have someone drive you to and from your exam because some people have trouble seeing to drive after eye dilation.
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The only part of an eye exam that has possible risks or side effects is the medication your specialist uses to dilate your pupils. They can cause side effects if you’re allergic to them. The symptoms vary depending on the medication, but they’re rare and usually minor. If you have a history of reactions to these medications, tell your eye care specialist. They may be able to offer alternatives.
Your eye care specialist will tell you about their findings during or immediately after your exam. They’ll discuss their recommendations for treatment or follow-up testing and write you a prescription for corrective lenses if you need one.
You should call your eye specialist any time you notice changes in your vision, especially ones that are happening noticeably over time. That includes finding it harder to read fine print or text, fading of color vision, squinting or eye strain, headaches at the end of the day and more.
Unexpected, sudden vision loss in one or both eyes, either partial or total, is a medical emergency. Some of the conditions that cause it can lead to permanent vision loss. Others can be deadly. Sudden vision loss can look like the following:
Some conditions, like migraines, can cause temporary vision loss. If you have a condition that can cause temporary vision loss, talk to your eye care specialist or healthcare provider. They can tell you how to react to vision loss and how to tell if you need emergency care.
Most people should get a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years. Even if you have 20/20 vision, an eye exam is still a good idea. Just like an annual checkup can catch conditions that don’t cause noticeable symptoms, an eye exam can detect health and eye issues that you can’t see or feel.
People with a higher risk of eye disease or vision issues may need more frequent eye exams. You might need more frequent eye exams if:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
An eye exam can happen regularly and work like an annual checkup for your eyes. Eye exams can also help diagnose emergency eye and brain conditions.
While you might not think you need regular eye exams (especially if you don’t need glasses or contacts), it’s still a good idea to get them. Like a checkup, they can detect issues well before you have symptoms. That way, you can see and feel better — not worse — when you look ahead.
Last reviewed on 08/05/2024.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy