Comprehensive Eye Exams

“My Vision’s Fine—Do I Still Need an Eye Exam?”

If you’ve recently had a vision screening, you might be thinking, “Everything looked good, so I don’t need a full eye exam.” But a vision screening is just a quick check-up, and it only shows a small part of the picture when it comes to your eye health.

Think of it like checking your blood pressure without doing the rest of your annual physical—you’ll get a useful number, but you won’t know everything you need to stay healthy.

What a Vision Screening Misses

Vision screenings mainly test how clearly you see at a distance—this is called visual acuity. But your overall vision includes so much more, like:

• Color vision

• Depth perception

• Peripheral (side) vision

• How well your eyes focus or work together

Most importantly, a screening doesn’t check the actual health of your eyes. That means conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration can go unnoticed.

Who Performs Vision Screenings?

Vision screenings often happen in schools, health fairs, workplaces, or during a physical. While helpful, they’re usually done by people without specialized training in eye health. Even if your primary care doctor does one, they’re a generalist and don’t have the same tools or expertise as an eye care professional.

Limitations of the Equipment

Many screenings rely on just an eye chart across the room. In contrast, an eye doctor uses advanced equipment that takes into account factors like room lighting, testing distance, and eye movement, which can all affect results.

Why a Comprehensive Eye Exam Matters

A comprehensive eye exam goes way beyond reading letters on a chart. It gives a full view of your vision and the health of your eyes, both inside and out.

Here’s what it includes:

• External Exam: Looks at your eyelids, lashes, whites of your eyes, pupils, and iris.

• Internal Exam: With your eyes dilated, your doctor examines the retina and optic nerve for signs of disease.

• Functional Vision Tests: Checks your depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, pupil response, and how well your eyes focus, move, and work together.

• Glaucoma Screening: Measures the pressure inside your eyes.

• Prescription Check: Tests different lenses to see if glasses or contacts could improve your vision.

How Often Should You Get an Exam?

An annual eye exam is the best way to stay ahead of any changes in your vision.

Even if your vision seems fine, your eyes could be telling a different story. A full exam is the best way to make sure you’re seeing clearly—and staying healthy—for years to come.

It’s About More Than Just Your Eyes

Your eye doctor also takes into account your overall health—including your medical history, medications, family history, lifestyle, sun exposure, and habits like smoking. All of this can affect your eyes and how to best care for them.