What Can Opticians Detect During an Eye Exam?

Curious about what opticians can spot during an eye exam?

Eye examinations aren’t just for checking your vision; they also allow opticians to assess your overall eye health and can even uncover other underlying health issues.

Let’s discover what your optician can detect during an eye exam and find out what to expect during an appointment at Opticare Opticians.

Eye diseases

There are hundreds of conditions that can affect your eyes. Some of the most common eye diseases that can be detected during an eye exam are listed below.

Cataracts: A cataract is a clouding of the part of your eye called the lens. Your vision becomes blurred because the cataract is like frosted glass, interfering with your sight.

Learn more about Cataracts.

Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina).

Learn more about Diabetic Retinopathy.

Glaucoma: Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions where the optic nerve is damaged at the point where it leaves the eye, which can lead to impaired vision or permanent damage to your eyesight.

Learn more about Glaucoma.

Macular Degeneration: The macula is a small area at the very centre of the retina. Sometimes the delicate cells of the macula become damaged and stop working, which can be due to ageing or a number of other risk factors.

Learn more about Macular Degeneration.

Other eye conditions and infections that can be detected during an eye exam include Blepharitis, Chalazion, Conjunctivitis, Dry Eyes and Sub-Conjunctival Haemorrhages.

Refractive errors

Refractive errors occur when the eye is shaped in such a way that light can’t focus directly on the retina, leading to blurred vision. Opticians use a series of tests to identify refractive errors such as myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), and astigmatism.

Underlying health conditions

Opticians can detect signs of systemic health conditions just by examining your eyes! Changes in your eye’s blood vessels, optic nerve, and retina may indicate health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and even brain tumours.

By booking an eye exam and uncovering potential signs of underlying health issues early, patients can seek further medical evaluation and treatment, which could prevent more serious health complications from developing.

What to expect from an eye exam with Opticare Opticians

Binocular vision check

At your appointment, your optometrist will use a binocular vision check to ensure your eyes work together to form one clear image. It lets us detect numerous problems that a standard eye test might not expose, such as prolonged vision processing speed and oculomotor dysfunction. You use your binocular vision to carry out most daily tasks, including driving, which is why we must ensure your eyes are working as they should.

Retinal photograph

If it’s your first visit with us, we will also take a retinal photograph; it’s a non-invasive procedure that can detect disease and indicate your general eye health. This service is part of our enhanced eye exam.

3D retinal scan

For those who choose our enhanced eye exam, we offer our state-of-the-art 3D retinal scans that will take a hyper-accurate image of your eye to detect even the most minute changes in your eyes. This exam can detect the earliest signs of glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetes-related retinopathy and more.

Learn more about our 3D OCT scans.

Visual Acuity Test

This exam includes a visual acuity test to measure how well you can see at various distances. The optician will ask you to read letters on an eye chart to determine whether you need glasses or contact lenses to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

Eye Movement and Coordination Assessment

Your eye movement and coordination will be evaluated to ensure your eyes can follow moving objects smoothly and accurately. This is important for activities that require precise visual tracking, such as sports and reading.

Eye Pressure Test

An eye pressure test, or tonometry, measures the pressure inside your eyes. This test is important for detecting glaucoma, a condition that can cause vision loss due to increased pressure damaging the optic nerve. The test is quick and painless, often involving a puff of air or a gentle probe.

Ready to book your eye test?

Give yourself peace of mind and keep on top of your eye health by booking your annual eye test at Opticare Opticians.

Book your appointment today!