The Eye Exam
The Eye Examination
We pride ourselves on providing the most thorough and complete eye examination possible, and we will always aim not to meet, but to exceed your expectations. We are fully equipped with latest technology that allows us to look at your eyes in minute detail. No two patients have the same eyes or the same problems, and therefore our eye examination is tailor-made to suit the individual. Everybody is special.
However the following will give you a general idea of what will happen in your eye examination.
The first thing we do is take a thorough history and symptoms. We will ask you about your history of spectacle wear, the reason for your visit, and any problems you are currently having with your glasses and/or contact lenses. We will also ask about your general health, any medications you are taking (as some systemic conditions and medications can affect your eyes), whether you have a history of eye problems, and whether there is a history of eye conditions in your family. We are also interested in your working environment and any hobbies you have, to help us find the visual correction that works best for you.
Your current spectacles (if you have them) will be measured, and we will assess what you are able to see through them.
Tests to assess the muscles of your eyes and the balance between the two eyes will be conducted, including convergence testing, as well as examination of your pupils reactions where necessary.
We will then check your spectacle refraction, this is a measurement of the power of the lenses you need to be able to see the most clearly and comfortably at both distance and near viewing.
If you are a contact lens wearer we will then assess the strength and design of your contact lenses.
Next we will have a thorough look at the health of your eyes, both front (eyelids and lashes, sclera and conjunctiva, cornea, iris and lens) and back (vitreous, retina, optic nerve head, macula and retinal blood vessels). This is where the eye test at N F Burnett Hodd really excels as we use the latest technology to assess the health of your eyes. In fact many Harley St Ophthalmologists refer their patients to us for these tests.
Included in the eye examination are measurements of:
- Intraocular pressure (the "puff of air" test) (if you are over 40 or family history of glaucoma)
- Heidelberg Retinal Tomography (HRT) which analyses the optic nerve head for signs of glaucoma (if you are over 40 or family history of glaucoma)
- Fundus photos − photographs of the central retina
- Optical Coherence Tomography this scans the macula and shows the individual layers of the retina - this test detects age related macula degeneration and other macula disorders.
- Optos peripheral retinal photographs − standard photos only show the very central part of the retina but detachments often occur out in the periphery. The Optos photographs the peripheral retina allowing us to detect pathology at an earlier stage.
- Visual Fields − a fast visual field screening helps us detect neurological problems and glaucoma. If a defect is found you may be asked to undertake a full threshold Humphreys Visual Field (the gold standard in fields measurement).
We will go over all the results with you and discuss the best course of action, whether that may be monitoring an eye condition, referral to an ophthalmologist or new spectacles.
If you need new spectacles or just fancy a 'new look', our Dispensing Opticians Yvonne and Daun are on hand to guide you through the process of choosing a frame that makes you look and feel great, and deciding on the best kind of lenses for you.