We’ve all had that eye exam where we know what is going to happen. Our eyes are going to be photographed, blown into, and then we are going to have to read different letters until somehow that becomes a prescription. We might know what an eye exam and a visit to the eye doctor entails, but what do those exams really tell the doctors?
This article is going to demystify the world of eye exams, and once you understand what makes an eye exam so helpful for eye doctors, you will be able to have a new appreciation for your prescription!
Do You Have 20/20 Vision?
The eye chart where you read all of the letters is a common staple of eye exams. The eye doctor has you cover one eye and you read as much as you can. Then you do the same with the other eye. This helps the eye doctor see if you have 20/20 vision, but what makes 20/20 vision so important for people?
20/20 vision is the perfect visual acuity that people can see from 20 feet away. If you have 20/20 vision, then you can see what the average person can see on an eye chart when they stand 20 feet away. The top number is the distance you would stand from the chart in feet, and the bottom number is the distance that a normal person would read the same line.
20/20 vision isn’t perfect vision, and some people can have 20/30 vision or 20/15 vision. However, for many people 20/20 is an average goal to shoot for. Additionally, if you do wear glasses or contacts, those will attempt to bring your vision up to 20/20.
The Refraction Eye Exam
As you look through a machine called an AutoRefractor, you will be asked to look through various lenses of different strengths in order to make sure the prescription is accurate. As the constant lenses are switched, as you figure out what lenses are the best for you, the eye doctor will be able to learn more about the prescription that will work for you.
Additionally, all of the refraction tests will help the doctor realize if you need lenses of different strengths in different eyes.
Eye Exams Are Useful Even If You Have Good Health
Even if you have good vision, an eye checkup is still something that you need to do every couple of years! The eye doctor is going to make sure that your eye health is perfect and that you aren’t at the risk of running into any eye diseases. Much like everything else, the earlier you catch a problem the easier it will be to heal.
