Eye Examination

At Donner Optometrists, all of our eye examinations are carried out by one of our fully qualified Optometrists

We allow 30 minutes for a routine eye examination but 45 minutes if we're seeing you for the first time or for OCT. This allows enough time for all the necessary tests to be done in a relaxed, unhurried manner, reducing any fear you might have of being rushed into the giving the "wrong" answer.

We ask at the start if you have any concerns about your eyes or vision so we can make sure that these are answered before the end of the test. Questions about your eye history, general health, work and/or hobbies help to put our findings into context and often lead us towards solutions for any problems. We explain what the different tests are for and what they involve as we go through them.

The Letter Chart

Our computerised chart has constantly changing letters, removing any concern that you might be remembering them rather than really reading them.

Retinoscopy

This involves shining a light into the eyes from a distance of 67cm and is an objective measurement of your prescription.

Opthalmoscopy

This involves shining a light into the eye from a close distance and enables us to see right into the eye from the cornea at the front through the lens to the retina at the back. Because the blood vessels on the retina can be seen, as well as where the optic nerve enters the retina, opthalmoscopy can give information about your general health, as well as being an essential health check for eyes.

Muscle Balance

This tests how your eyes are working together. Weaknesses in muscle balance can cause eyestrain and sometimes double vision. The test can involve covering one eye to watch how the other eye moves or it can be assessed with coloured or polarised lenses. Problems in muscle balance can sometimes be resolved with exercises or with prisms incorporated into spectacles.

Tonometry

Tonometry means the measurement of the pressure within the eye. In some people the pressure within their eye builds up and this can damage the optic nerve. The pressure can either be measured with an instrument that blows a puff of air into the eye or with one that makes a very gentle touch on the eye after some anaesthetic drops have been instilled.

Visual Fields

In this test you look at a central light and press a button whenever you see a little white dot flash. At Donner Optometrists, we use the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser, which is the instrument used in most hospital eye departments. It is particularly useful in detecting and monitoring glaucoma and it also enables us to carry out tests for the DVLA.

Digital Camera

When looking at the retina, the digital camera has two main advantages over opthalmoscopy. Firstly, we get a much wider field of view at any one time. Secondly, because the image is stored we are able to compare with previous photos. The digital technology even enables us to subtract one image from another, picking up any changes that may be occurring over time. This is particularly useful picking up the subtle changes in the optic nerve that occur in early glaucoma. Diabetics require digital photography annually to ensure that there is no damage of the retina from diabetes. Donner Optometrists have now invested in the latest OCT equipment that gives us a 3-Dimensional image of the back of the eye for even more detailed analysis.

Slit Lamp

The slit lamp is essentially a microscope that looks at the front of the eye. This helps us, for instance, to diagnose the causes of red or dry eyes and lid inflammations such as blepharitis. It involves a narrow but bright beam of light being shone on to the eye, and is an essential part of all contact lens examinations.

The Prescription

The prescription is a statement of the amount of short or long sightedness of your eyes, as well as details of any astigmatism (a distortion of the shape of the eyes, which most people have to some extent). This can be corrected with spectacles or soft contact lenses to improve your vision. The prescription can be affected by considerations such as how far away you hold things when you read, whether or not you use a computer, and whether you need prism (see muscle balance).

Other tests

Other tests that might be required include testing eye movements (motility and convergence tests), pupil reactions and colour vision. Some other tests may also be required for those applying for certain jobs or careers, or who require certain licences.

Conclusion

This is a time to recap and to ensure that all your questions have been answered and any concerns addressed. For spectacle wearers, it's often helpful to have an initial discussion on the suitability of different spectacle lenses.

Eye Tests for Children

All children in this country should have the opportunity to grow up with two good eyes. Studies have shown that during the first 45 years of life amblyopia (when vision doesn't develop because the eye doesn't receive a clear image or when there's a squint) is responsible for loss of vision in more people than all the other eye disease and trauma combined. Under 20 years of age, the incidence of amblyopia is ten times more frequent than all other eye diseases and trauma.

At Donner Optometrists, we encourage a relaxed and friendly atmosphere so that children can feel at home as they enter the practice and there is a selection of children's books in the waiting area.

Even in very young children, it's possible to do quite a few tests, such as retinoscopy, opthalmoscopy, motility, pupil reactions and muscle balance tests. These are usually done with the child sitting on the parent's lap.

From the age of approximately 3, it is possible to check the vision by showing letters and asking the child to point to corresponding letters on a card. Our letter chart has a selection of shapes and symbols that can be used instead of letters as well as pictures of animals and clowns that make the examination fun.

3-D goggles are used to test that stereo-vision is developing and other tests might include checks of colour vision and close focusing.

Often the hardest task is for the child to choose which of the free stickers they'd like to take home with them.