A complete eye examination does more than determine how clearly you see or which lens prescription will give you the best possible vision. Dr. Bello, along with the team at Advanced Vision Specialists, will perform a number of tests to check the health and function of your eyes, using state of the art equipment. The first portion of your exam starts with one of our technicians, who will thoroughly go over your medical history and your family's medical history, along with documenting any visual problems you may be experiencing. If you are a contact lens wearer, we will also check to make sure your contacts are the correct prescription, fit and are the type of lenses best suited for your eyes.

Testing

A complete eye examination will include one or several of the following tests:

Visual Acuity Test

This test measures how well you can see from a distance. Covering one eye at a time, you will look at an eye chart, through a Computerized Vision Testing System (COS), and be asked to identify letters that get smaller as you read down the chart. An auto refractor is also used to help determine if there has been a change in your prescription. This measurement will be fine-tuned by our technician, who may perform a refraction to determine the best prescription for you.

Muscle Light Test

Our technician will use a muscle light to test the function of your eye muscles. This will check to see if your pupils react appropriately to light. You will follow the movement of the light in various directions. Lastly, we will check your peripheral vision.

Visual Field Test

To check your peripheral vision, Dr. Bello may order a visual field test. For this test, you will be seated in front of a bowl-shaped instrument, called a visual field machine. During the course of the test, you will have alternate eyes patched and be asked to look at a single target light straight ahead of you. You will be asked to push a small button each time you see a flash of light appearing from various directions within the bowl. The instrument will record your responses, to identify if there are any blind spots in your vision.

Slit Lamp Testing

Dr. Bello will use a slit-lamp microscope to examine the front part of your eye, which includes your cornea, your iris and your lens. This diagnostic test gives a magnified view of your eye, and is vital in diagnosing many ocular conditions, such as dry eye and conjunctivitis.

Glaucoma Testing

To test for glaucoma, our technician will use a tonometer to measure your intraocular pressure. First we will administer anesthetic eye drops to numb the front surface of your eye. Next, we will use a sterile tonopen to gently touch your cornea. This procedure is quick and painless. The anesthetic will wear off in approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Similar testing, called pachymetry, may be performed if necessary. Pachymetry measures the thickness of your cornea and helps evaluate the accuracy of your intraocular pressure. Our technicians will apply numbing eye drops and complete the testing, by using ultrasonic waves to measure your corneal thickness.

Retinal Exam

A retinal exam explores the back of your eye, which includes your vitreous, retina and other structures. To perform this exam, your pupils will be dilated with eye drops. The total time for a retinal exam is about five minutes. There may be several stages of the retinal exam which Dr. Bello may choose to perform.

• A direct exam uses a light called an ophthalmoscope, which is critical in determining the health of your retina.
• An indirect examination requires a much brighter light, which Dr. Bello uses to examine the back of your eye, along with a magnifying lens. This allows him to see everything in great detail and in three dimensions.
• A slit lamp exam is used to get the best view at the back of your eye. This combines the use of the slit lamp and a special lens.

A word of caution about dilation:

Dilating eye drops will blur your vision for several hours. You may have difficulty driving or performing other activities and will be sensitive to bright light. These effects are temporary and should resolve in several hours. Please take this into account when you schedule your appointment with us, as you may need someone to accompany you or adjust any activities following your exam.

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Contact us today to schedule an eye examination appointment 1-773-775-9755