Routine Eye Exams

Can you remember when you had your last eye exam? If you can’t, it’s probably been too long since you had one. At Wooster Eye Center, our team has been dedicated to providing the finest eye care for over 50 years to ensure your eyes stay happy and healthy.

What Can I Expect at My Eye Exam?

During your exam with Wooster Eye Center, your eye doctor will want to know about your medical and surgical history, any medications you may be taking, and will perform a series of tests to assess your eyes.- please change as requested.

A visual acuity test is a simple test to determine whether you have 20/20 vision. You will read letters or numbers from an eye chart at different distances while covering the eye that is not being tested.

When determining your prescription, your eye doctor will have you look at an eye chart through a phoropter. This device can switch quickly between lenses of different powers.

Your eye doctor will ask you to compare the clarity of your vision when switching between different lenses to measure your refractive error. This can determine whether you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism and help your eye doctor find the best prescription for your glasses or contacts.

This test assesses the movement of your eyes, whether they are correctly aligned, and whether your eye muscles are working as they should.

Performing a peripheral vision test or a visual field test to evaluate your peripheral vision is important. If there are any abnormalities, it could be a sign of glaucoma, which is a progressive eye condition that is essential to detect early.

To examine the back of your eye, your eye doctor will place eye drops in your eye to dilate your pupil. This lets them see your retina and optic nerve and screen for any signs of damage.

An intraocular eye pressure test can measure the pressure in the eye. If pressure is elevated, that could be a sign of glaucoma.

Testing your pupils involves using a bright light and examining how your pupils respond. If your pupils get wider or are unresponsive, it may indicate a problem with your eyes.

How Often Do I Need Eye Exams?

How often you need eye exams can vary depending on age, eye health, and overall health. If you are 40 years or older, you should schedule regular eye exams, as your chances of conditions like cataracts and glaucoma are higher than in younger patients. Your eye doctor will be able to detect early signs of these conditions and develop a treatment plan. However, even if you are below the age of 40, you should still have regular eye exams. This is especially important if you get an eye infection, an eye injury, or are experiencing eye pain. If you notice floaters and flashes of light, it could also be a sign that there is an underlying problem.

You should also have regular eye exams if you have diabetes, autoimmune conditions, hypertension, or a family history of eye conditions. If you have any of these conditions, routine eye exams are necessary to maintain eye health and screen for potential issues. They are also best for maintaining optimal vision if you wear glasses or contact lenses. As prescriptions can change over time, regular eye exams can help your eye doctor reevaluate your prescription and provide you with glasses or contact lenses better suited to your vision.

What are Refractive Errors?

The term “refractive errors” covers common vision conditions you likely know as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Refractive errors are usually a result of an irregularly shaped cornea or an eye that is too short or too long. These errors can prevent light from focusing directly on the retina, resulting in blurred vision.

Nearsightedness

When you are nearsighted, you are able to see well up close, however, objects that are farther away appear blurry. This is because light focuses on the front of the retina rather than the center, making far-away objects look out of focus.

Farsightedness

People who are farsighted can see distant objects clearly, but closer objects appear blurry. Light entering the eye focuses behind the retina rather than the center, leading to blurry vision up close.

Astigmatism

With astigmatism, vision can be blurry at more than one distance. This happens when the cornea of the eye is misshapen. If you have astigmatism, you are more likely to have nearsightedness or farsightedness as well.

Most refractive errors can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Some patients who do not want to wear glasses or contact lenses opt for elective procedures like LASIK to correct their vision.

At your eye exam, your eye doctor will perform a refraction test to measure your refractive errors and determine the prescription you will need to achieve clearer vision.

Why Choose the Optical Department at Wooster Eye Center?

At Wooster Eye Center, we have decades of experience assisting patients with their glasses and contact lenses. We have a great selection of glasses, sunglasses, reading glasses, and contact lenses for all ages.

We offer visual aids for any budget with lots of affordable options, and we also feature high-end frames. These pair with our state-of-the-art Crizal lenses to create a stunning pair of glasses.

As a patient at Wooster Eye Center, you can enjoy a free two-year warranty, free adjustments and repairs on glasses, and a discount on a second pair. Do you or someone in your family need an eye exam? Take the time to prioritize your eyes by scheduling an appointment with Wooster Eye Center in Wooster, OH, today!