Whether you deal with conditions like dry, itchy eyes, blurred vision or cataracts -- or enjoy perfect 20/20 vision -- regular eye exams are essential for protecting your sight and maintaining eye health. This is especially the case nowadays, when screen time and other lifestyle factors can significantly impact your eyes.
To help you better understand exactly what happens during an eye exam, we contacted an optometrist to discuss the different tests and machines used and what an eye doctor evaluates. Let this serve as a reminder to schedule an eye exam with a professional in your area.
What is an eye exam?
An eye exam is a thorough evaluation of the health and function of the eyes. It typically includes a series of tests to assess various aspects of vision and eye health, ensuring comprehensive care and early detection of potential issues.
The duration of an eye exam can vary, but generally takes about 30 minutes to several hours, according to WebMD. Costs for an eye exam range from $10 to $40 for those with insurance, and $50 to $250 for those without, according to Warby Parker.
Each type of exam serves specific purposes in assessing and maintaining eye health and visual function. Different types of eye exams include:
Comprehensive eye exam: A thorough evaluation of eye health and vision.
A thorough evaluation of eye health and vision. Follow-up eye exam: Conducted to monitor changes in eye health or vision after previous treatment or diagnosis.
Conducted to monitor changes in eye health or vision after previous treatment or diagnosis. Vision screening: Often a basic screening done at the DMV or a school to test visual acuity to ensure safe driving or academic performance, respectively.
Eye exam tests to expect
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