Consumer Guide to Eye Exams
Dr. Gary Heiting
Browse the Table of Contents below to learn all about eye exams, including what to expect during an eye exam, children's eye exams, as well as eye exam costs.
Table of Contents
Why Are Eye Exams Important?
Routine eye exams can detect vision problems, eye disease and general health problems before you are aware a problem exists. Also, read why vision screenings are no substitute for a comprehensive eye exam performed by a licensed eye doctor.
What to Expect During a Comprehensive Eye Exam
Are your eye exams as complete as they should be? Learn what tests are included in a comprehensive eye exam.
Choosing an Eye Doctor
What's the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist? And which eye doctor should you choose?
Color Blind Tests
Are you color blind? Learn about color blind tests and make sure you are seeing life in full color.
Contrast Sensitivity Test
A contrast sensitivity test can help your eye doctor determine if you have a vision problem that cannot be detected with a conventional eye chart.
Eye Exam Cost and When To Have an Eye Exam
Learn how much an eye exam costs and how frequently you and your family members should have your eyes examined. Also, find out what information you should bring to your eye exam.
Eye Exams for Children
Early eye exams for children are extremely important because vision problems often are related to poor performance in school.
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Take this brief assessment to find out which options are right for you.
Eye Exams for Contact Lenses
If you plan to wear contact lenses, be sure you say so when you schedule an eye exam. Your eye doctor will need extra time for a contact lens fitting, which includes measurements of your eye's surface.
Eye Exam Eye-Q Quiz
Do you know why the eye doctor puts dilating eye drops in your eyes? What risk factors would make more frequent eye exams necessary? Put your knowledge to the test with our Eye-Q quiz!
Free Eye Exams and Eyeglasses
Learn about organizations that provide free eye exams for infants, children and families or individuals in financial need. Some also provide free eyeglasses.
How To Read Eyeglass Prescriptions
Find out what all the numbers mean and why you can't buy contact lenses with an eyeglass prescription.
Refractive Errors and Refraction: How the Eye Sees
Learn how light travels through the eye, how the eye refracts or focuses light and how refractive errors affect vision. Also, how your eye doctor detects and corrects refractive errors.
Watch this video on what causes blurry vision and how we can correct it.
Sports Vision Tests and Training
Learn how sports vision tests help you improve hand-eye coordination, depth perception, eye-tracking ability and other skills.
The Eye Chart and 20/20 Vision
Why do eye doctors use an eye chart to test your eyes? See examples of the "tumbling E" and Snellen eye charts, and learn what "20/20 vision" actually means.
Understanding Your Contact Lens Rx
You need a prescription for contacts, even if they're just for looks. Here's what all those numbers and terms mean on the Rx form.
Visual Field Testing
A visual field test can detect central and peripheral vision problems caused by glaucoma, stroke and other eye or brain problems.
Wavefront Eye Exams
Modern eye examinations using wavefront can identify even obscure vision errors that may now be corrected for the first time through LASIK, eyeglasses, or artificial lenses.
The iLASIK Procedure - Sponsored Section
Learn about this advanced laser vision correction procedure for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
[Page updated January 2013]
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