Understanding eye care basics is necessary in order to make well-informed decisions about your health—from knowing what each type of doctor does to what eye exams are available and how often to get them. Prevent Blindness provides a thorough guide for all patients on what to expect when getting professional eye care.*

What types of eye doctors are there?

In eye care, there are different types of specialists, which are nicely broken down and defined by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). 

The three main types of eye care specialists are:

• Ophthalmologists: An ophthalmologist is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy who specialties in comprehensive eye care to prevent eye disease and injury. They can provide primary, secondary, and tertiary services—including vision services, contact lenses, eye examinations, medical eye care, and surgical eye care—as well as diagnose general diseases of the body.

• Optometrists: An optometrist provides primary eye care services, such as “comprehensive eye health and vision examinations; diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and vision disorders; the detection of general health problems; the prescribing of glasses, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, and medications; the performing of certain surgical procedures; and the counseling of patients regarding their surgical alternatives and vision needs as related to their occupations, avocations, and lifestyle.”
• Opticians: An optician specializes in the “designing, finishing, fitting, and dispensing of eyeglasses and contact lenses, based on an eye doctor’s prescription.” They may also dispense low-vision aids and/or artificial eyes.

Other eye care specialists include the following:

• Certified Ophthalmic Registered Nurses: These nurses “perform ophthalmic examinations, patient assessments based on human responses to ophthalmic diseases, triage, teach patients about their ophthalmic conditions and prevention, assist in eye surgeries, and provide emotional support to patients and their families.”

• Certified Orthoptists: An orthoptist is an “expert in the visual assessment of nonverbal patients and in the performance of diagnostic tests used to evaluate visual function, the orthoptist may also be skilled in refraction, visual field testing, electrophysiologic testing, contact lens evaluation, and low vision assessment.”

• Certified Ophthalmic Personnel: These individuals “assist the ophthalmologist in a variety of procedures, from history taking and basic tonometry to visual field testing and ophthalmic photography, depending on the level of certification.”

• Paraoptometric: A paraoptometric “collects patient data, administers routine yet technical tests of the patient’s visual capabilities, and assists in office management.”

• Optometric Assistant: An optometric assistant “is primarily involved in front office procedures, optical dispensing and contact lens patient education.”
• Optometric Technician: An optometric technician “assist[s] the physician with more complicated or technical medical tests and minor office surgery.”

What are the different types of eye exams?

• Routine eye exam: This is the type of exam performed to test your vision and determine the correct prescription, if necessary, for glasses and/or contacts.
• Comprehensive eye exam: Also referred to as a medical eye exam, a complete eye exam, and a dilated eye exam, this type of exam is performed to diagnose severe vision issues, eye pain, and/or eye diseases, like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or glaucoma.

What happens in a comprehensive eye exam?

In a comprehensive eye exam, multiple tests are performed to have a full picture of your vision and eye health. 

The three main tests used to assess eye health include:

1. Slit Lamp Exam: A slit lamp is a high-intensity light that allows the doctor to examine both the front and back areas of your eyes using different lenses. It helps your doctor diagnose certain conditions, including cataracts, macular degeneration, a detached retina, injury to the cornea, and blockages of the retinal vessel.
2. Tonometry: An instrument (called an applanation tonometer) is used to measure the pressure inside your eye, or intraocular pressure (IOP). This test is specifically used to diagnose glaucoma. Before the test begins, your doctor will numb your eyes with an anesthetic.
3. Pupil Dilation: The doctor will widen, or dilate, your pupil with eye drops in order to best and more closely see the inside (back) of the eye. It typically takes 20 to 30 minutes for the drops to take effect, and the effect may last up to several hours after the exam.

How frequently should I get an eye exam?

If you are experiencing symptoms or at special risk, you may need an eye exam more frequently as recommended by your doctor. Special risks include diabetes, high blood pressure, previous eye trauma, surgery, or a family history of eye disease, such as glaucoma.

Prevent Blindness provides the standard recommendations by age (and race, when applicable) for eye exam frequency:

• Ages 20 to 39: If you are 20-39 years of age and Black, you should get a complete eye exam every two to four (2-4) years.

• Ages 40 to 64: If you are 40-64 years of age and Black, you should get a complete eye exam every two to four (2-4) years.
• Ages 65 and older: You should get a complete eye exam every one to two (1-2) years.

How should I prepare for my eye exam?

Before you make the eye exam appointment, make a list of any vision problems you are having, if any. When you are making the appointment, be sure to ask for a dilated eye exam if you are experiencing any issues, as well as clarify with the person you’re speaking to whether you will be able to drive yourself home or not.

On the day of your appointment, write down and bring with you a list of the following items:

• signs or symptoms of eye problems, such as flashes of light, difficulty seeing at night, temporary double vision, loss of vision, etc;
• eye surgeries or injuries you’ve had, including dates and hospitals where treated;
• What prescription and/or over-the-counter medicines you are taking;
• Your general health condition (allergies, chronic health problems, surgeries, etc.);
• family history of eye problems (glaucoma, cataracts, etc.), if applicable; and
• any questions you may have for the doctor.
  

If you already wear glasses and/or contacts, you should bring them with you to the appointment. If eye care is included in your health insurance, you must bring your health insurance card along with you, too.

Helpful tips for during your eye exam

When the doctor is performing the eye exam, don’t be afraid to ask a question about anything that you didn’t hear correctly, doesn’t make sense to you, or you want to make sure you wrote down right, such as the name or purpose of a test. You can also ask your doctor when is the best time to call should any additional questions arise.

Before your appointment is over, be sure to ask if there have been any changes since your last exam and when you should schedule your next exam.

*Prevent Blindness. (2020, Apr. 30). Getting Professional Eye Care. https://preventblindness.org/getting-professional-eye-care/