6 Different Types of Eye Tests That You Must Know

Priya Singh
Health A-Z
May 01, 2019
0

You know how important it is to take your vehicle out for timely servicing in order to ensure its smooth functioning. But do you get your eyes checked this often? Routine eye tests don’t appear to be really much significant unless something goes awry with your vision. However, the seemingly tedious vision tests are more important than you think they are.

So, before you take your precious eyes for granted, read here about 6 eye tests and learn why they are so important.

1. Eye muscle test

opthalmologist checking right eye of a midage lady =

This test scans the muscles that control eye movement for weakness or poor control. Your eye doctor looks at your eyes as you move them in six specific directions and as you visually track a moving object, such as a pen or a light.

2. Visual acuity test

checking eye vision through huge testing glasses =

This test is conducted to measure how clearly you can see from a distance and to determine whether you need glasses. The specialist will ask you to identify different alphabets printed on a chart (Snellen chart) positioned generally 20 feet away. The letters in the chart get smaller as you move down. You cover one eye and read the letters, then cover the other eye and read.

3. Refraction assessment

lady doctor checking eye vision of an old man =

A refraction assessment helps your doctor decide for a corrective lens prescription that will give you the sharpest vision. This assessment is not applicable if you don't need corrective lenses. The specialist fine-tunes this refraction assessment by having you look through a Phoroptor - a mask-like device that contains wheels of different lenses.

4. Visual field test (perimetry)

little girl eye checking is getting done through computerized version =

Your visual field is the area that you can see without moving your eyes. The visual field test checks whether you have difficulty seeing in any areas of your peripheral vision — the areas on the side of your visual field. The different types of visual field tests are - Confrontation visual field exam, Tangent screen exam, and Automated Perimetry. Basis your response to one or more of these tests, the specialist determines the completeness of your peripheral vision, and diagnose your eye condition.

5. Color vision testing

animated single eye ball walking on colorful blocks =

You could have a poor color vision and not even realize it. If you have difficulty distinguishing certain colors, your eye doctor may screen your vision for a color deficiency. To check color vision, the specialist shows several multicolored dot-pattern tests. If you don’t suffer from any color deficiency, you'll be able to decipher numbers and shapes in the dot patterns. However, if you do have a color deficiency, you'll not be able to find anything in the dot patterns.

6. Slit-lamp examination

young doctor computer checking eye of a young lady =

A slit lamp is a microscope that expands and illuminates the front of your eye with an intense line of light. Eye specialists use this light to examine the cornea, iris, lens, and anterior chamber of your eyes. In order to examine your cornea, the specialist may use eye drops containing fluorescein dye. The orange-colored dye spreads across the eyes and helps the specialist detect any tiny cuts, scrapes, tears, foreign objects, or infections in the cornea. Your eyes' tears eventually wash the dye away. This test also aids the doctor to diagnose eye problems such as glaucoma, cataract, and dry eyes.

An eye exam involves an array of tests designed to assess your vision and check for any eye diseases. Do not get overwhelmed by the odd-looking instruments, bright lights, or a seemingly endless array of lenses. Each test during an eye exam evaluates a different aspect of your vision to help you see the world clear and better.

For any queries related to eye tests, and eye care in general, you can consult an Ophthalmologist now!

About the Author

Priya Singh

Priya Singh is a professional writer and editor with 13 years of experience in writing/editing health and lifestyle content for diverse verticals such as magazine, newspaper, and digital media.

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6 Different Types Of Eye Tests That You Must Know