Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in Eye Exams on April 18, 2025
Regular eye exams do more than just ensure your prescription is up-to-date. At a comprehensive eye exam, your ophthalmologist performs tests that detect the signs and symptoms of eye conditions that can threaten the health of your eyes and the clarity of your vision.
If you are due for an eye exam, you may wonder what tests your ophthalmologist might perform and why. Keep reading to learn more about what your ophthalmologist will test at your eye exam.
What Tests Do Ophthalmologists Perform at an Eye Exam?
When you come in for an eye exam at EyeHealth Northwest, your ophthalmologist administers tests that check both the quality of your vision and the health of your eyes. These tests include:
Visual Acuity
A visual acuity test determines how well you can see at various distances, with and without any visual aids you might use. This test requires reading a chart with progressively smaller rows of letters, numbers, or symbols while covering one eye.
Refraction
Refraction involves looking through a device called a phoropter, which contains glass lenses of multiple strengths. This test allows your ophthalmologist to give you an accurate prescription.
If testing finds you are nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic, this is also a great time to talk to your eye doctor about vision correction procedures like LASIK and refractive lens exchange (RLE).
Tonometry
This test uses a puff of air or a small instrument to assess intraocular pressure. By observing how much force is needed to flatten a small area of the cornea, the pressure inside the eye can be measured.
This can be useful for diagnosing glaucoma, a serious eye condition often characterized by high intraocular pressure.
Slit-Lamp Exam
Your ophthalmologist uses a slit-lamp to examine the structures in your eye, including the retina, optic nerve, cornea, iris, lens, and vitreous. This can help them detect signs of cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye, age-related macular degeneration, and corneal conditions.
Visual Field Testing
A visual field test assesses your peripheral vision, one of the first aspects of your vision that glaucoma can affect. You will be asked to follow a small object or light using your eyes during this test.
Optical Imaging
Optical imaging is one of the most advanced tests now routinely performed at an eye exam. It uses optical coherence tomography to create detailed digital images of the eye structures.
By undergoing these tests with your eye doctor, you can ensure you’re seeing your best and that any signs of eye conditions are detected early and treated as soon as possible.
How Often Should I Have My Eyes Examined?
Several factors can affect how often you should have your eyes examined, but the general guides are as follows for different groups:
Children
Babies should get a first eye exam between 6–12 months, a second exam between ages 3 and 5, and annual exams from ages 6-17. Children’s eyes can change rapidly as they grow, so yearly exams ensure the clarity of their vision during their school years.
Young Adults
For adults in their 20s and 30s with no vision problems, exams are recommended every two years. Adults who wear contact lenses must have annual exams to get a vision prescription before purchasing new lenses.
Older Adults
Adults should have a comprehensive exam when they reach age 40, as many age-related eye conditions start to show initial symptoms at this age. Adults over age 65 should have annual eye exams to ensure the long-term health of their eyes and the clarity of their vision as they age.
Patients with Risk Factors for Eye Conditions
If you experience problems with your vision, have a family history of certain eye conditions, or have a chronic condition that can affect the eyes, like diabetes, you may be at higher risk for certain eye conditions. Your ophthalmologist will likely recommend you attend more frequent eye exams to ensure these conditions don’t impact your vision.
Is it time to schedule your next eye exam? Book an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!
