Healthy Vision Starts with a Routine Eye Exam

The NCT, Tonopen, and iCare are used to measure intraocular pressure (IOP). Checking IOP is one of the most important clinical functions of a complete eye examination. IOP that is too high or too low can cause many problems, so close monitoring is recommended.

An autorefractor is used to determine your approximate prescription. This machine evaluates the way an image is focused on the retina, where vision processing takes place. Subjective eye exams and autorefractors may be used together to produce a prescription.

During a routine eye exam, a visual field may be conducted to test the full horizontal and vertical range of what you are able to see peripherally, also referred to as “side vision.” This exam tests for the possible presence of blind spots in the peripheral that may originate from different eye diseases, such as glaucoma. Analysis of blind spots also may help identify specific areas of brain damage caused by stroke or tumor.

The fundus photography takes photographs of the back of your eye. These pictures are necessary to document the health of the optic nerve, vitreous, macula, retina and its blood vessels. The photographs are used for comparison, documentation, and to sometimes diagnose certain eye conditions.

Corneal topography is a non-invasive imaging technique for mapping and describing measurements of the curvature of the cornea, the outer structure of the eye. An evaluation of corneal topography is necessary for the accurate diagnosis and follow-up of certain corneal disorders, such as keratoconus, difficult contact lens fits, and pre- and postoperative assessment of the cornea, most commonly after refractive surgery.

A color blind test is a device used to determine if you have a color vision deficiency, commonly known as color blindness. To perform a more detailed analysis of color blindness and/or an individual’s ability to accurately perceive colors, a quantitative color blind test is needed. The most popular such test is the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test.

The optical coherence tomography, also known as OCT, is a method of imaging that uses light waves to provide cross-sectional views of interior eye structures. This is one method to monitor glaucoma. It involves imaging of the eye’s optic nerve and internal structures to establish a baseline and to make sure no obvious changes have occurred over a period of time, which might indicate progressive glaucoma damage.