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Eye Exams for Adults

Male trying on eyeglasses in CrestwoodAdults who are healthy and do not wear glasses or contacts are encouraged to have an eye exam at least every 2 years until the age of 50, unlike the more frequent eye exams for children. However, patients between 18 and 50 who do need vision correction or have health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, should be examined at least once a year.

All adults over 50 years of age are also encouraged to have annual eye exams, due to the increased risk of eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration as we age.

The eye examination is a collection of data and procedures that are designed to evaluate your vision, focusing ability, eye movements, and eye health. At Derby City Eye Care, our examination is tailored to your age, symptoms, and individual vision needs, and includes the following:

Tonometry

Also known as the “air puff,” this instrument measures the pressure inside your eyes to help the doctor determine if you are at risk for certain eye diseases like glaucoma.

Autorefraction

This machine focuses light on the front of the eye to give the doctor an estimate of your prescription for glasses or contact lenses, and assist in evaluating the severity of eye diseases like dry eyes and cataracts.

Visual Field

This instrument presents a series of small light flashes throughout your central and peripheral (side) vision to detect early signs of eye diseases like cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

Patient History

Your doctor will review your medications, allergies, health conditions, previous eye history, family history of eye diseases. They will also talk to you about the current environmental conditions, work activities, or hobbies that could be affecting your vision or eye health.

Visual Acuity

During this part of the examination, your doctor evaluates how well you are seeing in the distance and up close with each eye and with both eyes. They will ask you to read a series of letters or numbers on a chart, from largest to smallest, with and without your current glasses or contact lenses.

Eye Muscle Assessment

Our eye doctor in Crestwood KY will shine a light in each of your eyes to make sure that your pupils are reacting properly. They will also ask you to follow a moving object with your eyes to determine how well the muscles work individually and together.

Refraction

This is where your doctor measures and finalizes the prescription needed for your glasses or contacts. They do this by placing a machine full of lenses (called a phoropter) in front of your eyes and asks you, “which is better: one or two,” to give you the clearest vision possible.

Anterior Eye Health Assessment

For this part of the examination, your doctor will evaluate the health of the front of your eyes with a light that is attached to a microscope (called a slit lamp). The doctor will ask you to rest your chin and forehead on the instrument and will move it around to get a detailed view of your eyelids, lashes, corneas, conjunctiva, irises, and lenses, to identify any eye conditions or diseases that may be affecting them.

Posterior Eye Health Assessment

The final part of the eye examination is checking the health of the retinas, optic nerves, and maculae in the back of the eyes. Your doctor may do this by putting drops in your eyes to enlarge (dilate) the pupils for a better view. The drops typically take 15-20 minutes to take effect, then the doctor looks in your eyes with a special light that is attached to a headset (called a BIO) and determines if there are any diseases or conditions that could affect your vision or overall health.

Our Walmart optometrist, Dr. Jeremy Fowler, will conclude the examination by discussing their findings and recommendations with you and answering any questions you have about your eye health.