Patient Guide to Eye Examination

Adults

If you are an adult without risk factors for eye disease, it is recommended that you have an eye examination

  • At least once between the ages 20 and 39
  • Every two years between ages 40 and 64
  • Every year if you are 65 or older.
  • If you have a family history of glaucoma or history of diabetes, you should be examined every year after 40
  • People with diabetes should get an eye examination done at least once a year
Children

It is recommend that a pediatrician or family physician examine infants in the nursery while the high-risk infants eg. premature babies with history of oxygen exposure, should be examined by an ophthalmologist. Childrens Eyes should be screened by their Pediatrician or Ophthalmologist at age of three and one-half years, and five years. After that, screening should be performed at routine school examinations or if Eye symptoms are present.

Before seeing the Doctor, prepare yourself briefly to gain the maximum out of the visit
  • Remember to bring a list of all your medications.
  • If your history is complicated, old medical records or a report from your previous doctor can be invaluable.
  • If you anticipate that the doctor will dilate your pupils ( ask about this at the time you schedule the appointment ), plan on not driving for few hours after the examination.
  • Mentally run through the questions you have in mind to ask related to your Disease
  • Do not hesitate to clear all your doubts before you leave the clinic
The Basic Routine Eye Examination
  • Vision Testing
  • Ocular motility test
  • Slit lamp examination - a binocular microscope that the Doctor uses to examine your Eyes under high magnification.
  • Applanation tonometry to measure your Eye pressure (normal range is 10 to21mmHg)
  • Fundoscopy - to examine the back of Eye ie retina, its Blood Vessels and Optic Nerve head
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