Types of Eye Exams

There’s a little more to choosing the right kind of eyewear than just taking into the account of using one variety versus another. In Minneapolis, MN, you often have people wondering about whether they should go for eyeglasses or contact lenses, and their choice will typically be influenced by which piece of eyewear they think is going to suit them best. There’s nothing wrong with this at all, and the truth is that this is perhaps the most important thing to consider when picking between glasses and contacts. However, it’s also helpful to know about the different steps involved in acquiring each, so you should learn about how your choice of eyewear will affect the nature of the eye exam you’ll have to take.

No matter what kind of eyewear you decide on in Minneapolis, MN, you’ll need to submit to an eye exam so that your doctor can determine exactly what you need. It’s not enough to simply choose between glasses and contacts; it’s also necessary to narrow things down to a specific item or set of items, because there are many different types to pick from and the goal is to choose what’s going to improve your vision by the most significant margin. Getting the wrong pair of glasses might impair your ability to see, and getting the wrong set of contact lenses can have adverse effects on the health of your eyes.

When you’re getting your eyes examined in order to obtain a pair of prescription glasses, you’ll be subject to a variety of tests. The goal of this type of examination is to paint a clear picture of what requirements your eyewear should meet. A retinoscopy will be performed so that your doctor can gauge how light reflects off your eye, which will yield information regarding the type of prescription you need. You may then be required to take a test that will show whether you’re nearsighted or farsighted, as well as whether or not you have an astigmatism or some other form of optical problem.

By contrast, when you get your eyes examined for the purpose of receiving the right contact lenses, the biggest concern is whether the eyewear will fit. While it’s almost impossible to tell just by looking, our eyes are not all the same shape and size. This is important, because getting contacts of the wrong size can cause severe eye irritation. The doctor will examine the curvature of your eye and will then select a pair of fitting contact lenses. In some cases, a tear film evaluation may be performed as well.