An eye examination with an optometrist is very straightforward. Your eye examination will probably last somewhere between 20 to 30 minutes.
During your eye examination you can expect the optometrist to ask a lot of questions about your general health, lifestyle, the quality of your vision and any glasses you wear. This is called "taking a history". These questions are very important. The eye examination should then include:
Some optometrists may use some additional tests such as retinal photographs and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). These tests are not essential but add further peace of mind and provide a useful baseline for following year's tests.
At the end of the test, the optometrist should:
If your optometrist thinks you need further eye health investigation, they will arrange for your referral in the most appropriate way. This may be with a letter to your GP to arrange an appointment at the hospital, or with a letter for you to take to the local Accident and Emergency department if they think you need to be seen quickly. Some areas have MEC schemes (Minor Eye Condition) where you may be referred to another optometrist to do further tests to decide whether you need to see an eye doctor. Some minor eye conditions can be treated by the optometrist without need of a referral to the hospital. The arrangements for referring you may depend on where you live.
Our Helpline is your direct line to the support, advice, and products you need to face the future with confidence. If you or someone you know has an eye condition, our sight loss advisers can help.
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