First, they'll have you look through some lenses to determine your best corrected visual acuity. This helps figure out how nearsighted you are. Next, they'll use an autorefractor to automatically check your eye's refractive power. This gives a starting point for the lens power in your new glasses or contacts. Finally, the doctor will perform a manual refraction using different lenses to pinpoint your precise prescription. With some lenses, clear vision, and a few tests, your eye doctor will have you diagnosed and on your way to seeing the world in high definition again in no time. The exam is usually quick painless, and key to getting you back to 20/20 vision.
Visual Acuity Test
To diagnose myopia, your eye doctor will start with a visual acuity test. This checks how well you see at different distances. The doctor will have you look at an eye chart to see if you can read the letters clearly. If the letters start to get blurry for you, that's a sign you may have nearsightedness. The doctor will then do a refraction test using a phoropter that big machine with lots of lenses. They'll flip through different lens strengths while you look at an eye chart to determine your lens prescription.
Once your doctor knows your lens correction, they'll do other tests to check your eye health and make sure there aren't any other issues. They'll examine the front and back of your eyes with a slit lamp to look for any abnormalities. They'll also dilate your pupils using eye drops to get a better view inside your eyes.
After the exam, your doctor will review the results with you. If you have myopia, they'll prescribe corrective lenses like glasses or contact lenses to help improve your distance vision. The good news is nearsightedness is very treatable. With regular eye exams and properly fitted corrective lenses, most people with myopia can see clearly and maintain good eye health. The key is catching any vision changes early before they start impacting your daily life. So if things start looking blurry, don't put off that eye appointment! Your vision is worth it.
Retinoscopy
To determine if you have myopia, your eye doctor will start with a simple vision test called retinoscopy. This helps measure your eye's refractive error and the strength of lens needed to correct your vision.
During retinoscopy, the doctor will dim the lights and have you look at an object across the room. They'll then shine a light into your eyes to see how the light reflects off your retinas. Based on the reflection, they can tell if you're nearsighted or farsighted and get an estimate of your prescription. The doctor will place different lenses in front of your eyes and analyze how the reflection changes.
They are looking to find the lens that reduces eye strain and provides the clearest vision
You may be asked to look at an eye chart to determine the smallest line of letters you can read. The doctor will flip different lenses with varying powers in front of your eyes until the reflection shows your eyes focusing properly.
Retinoscopy only takes a few minutes and is completely painless, though the bright light can be uncomfortable for some. The results, combined with your input on lens clarity, will determine if you have myopia and the lens power needed to correct your vision. With an accurate eyeglass or contact lens prescription, you'll be seeing clearly again in no time. And with regular eye exams, your eye doctor can monitor your myopia and adjust your prescription as needed to prevent further vision loss.
Subjective Refraction Test
The subjective refraction test is used to determine your eyeglass prescription. This part of the eye exam involves looking through different lenses and determining which ones provide the clearest vision.
How It Works
The optometrist will place different lenses in front of your eyes, one at a time, and ask you questions about the clarity of your vision with each lens. They start with a lens they believe to be close to your actual prescription and make small changes from there based on your feedback. You'll look at an eye chart on the wall with letters, numbers, or symbols. The optometrist will ask if the image looks clearer or blurrier with the different lenses. Be honest in your responses. They may also use a phoropter, a large device with different lenses that can be flipped into place quickly. This allows for efficiently trying many different lens powers.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a quick rundown of what to expect when getting your eyes checked for nearsightedness. The good news is the exam itself is usually pretty straightforward and painless. The doctor will run through some basic vision tests to determine your visual acuity and refractive error, then based on the results may prescribe glasses, contacts, or other treatments to help improve your vision.
The key is not to stress too much about the diagnosis myopia is an extremely common condition and the prognosis is typically very good. With the right correction and management, nearsightedness shouldn't stop you from seeing and doing the things you love. Now you can walk into your next eye exam feeling fully prepared and confident, ready to get the answers and solutions you need. Your vision is worth it!
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