An eye exam is a key part of your family’s health routine, which is why we provide comprehensive eye exams for all ages, just like a visit to the dentist or family doctor. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment, it helps to know how much time to set aside. The length of an exam can change based on your vision needs and overall health.
You can plan for your visit to take a little time, but it’s a valuable step in your health care. On average, a comprehensive eye exam takes between 30 to 60 minutes, but this depends a lot on your eye health and your vision needs. Several factors can make your appointment a bit shorter or longer, so it’s always a good idea to plan for a little extra time.
Factors That Affect Your Exam Duration
Many factors can influence how long you’ll be at the eye doctor’s office. In particular, your personal health history and the reason for your visit play a big role in the appointment length.
Your appointment time may change based on a few key things:
- Your first visit versus a return visit
- Your personal & family health history
- Any new symptoms or concerns you have
- A request for a contact lens exam & fitting
- Whether your pupils need to be dilated or you may choose diagnostic imaging
What’s Involved in a Comprehensive Eye Exam
Eye exams are thorough because they check your vision, the health of your eyes, and even aspects of your overall wellness. Each step of an eye exam provides important information for your eye doctor.
A Review Of Your Health History
First, we’ll talk about you and your health. This conversation includes your general medical history, any medicines you take, and any vision issues you’ve noticed. This helps us understand your unique needs before we begin the exam.
Preliminary Tests
Before you see your optometrist, a team member guides you through some initial tests. These simple checks are quick and provide important information about your eyes. They help build a complete picture of your vision.
- Visual Field Test: This measures your side vision.
- Eye Pressure Test: A quick puff of air measures the pressure inside your eye.
- Autorefractor: A machine helps get an estimate of your prescription.
- Diagnostic imaging: Using modern technology, we take a scan your eye to look for potential issues.
The Exam With The Eye Doctor
When you see an eye doctor in Colorado Springs, they perform more tests to finalize your prescription and check your eye health in detail. These tests include:
- Visual Acuity Test: You’ll read letters on an eye chart to check how clearly you see at different distances.
- Refraction Test: You’ll look through a series of lenses to find the prescription that gives you the sharpest vision.
- Slit-Lamp Exam: The doctor uses a special tool to look at the structures in the front and back of your eyes.
All About Pupil Dilation
If your eyes are dilated, you should plan for your appointment to take an hour or more. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the dilating drops to work fully, then, once your pupils are open, your optometrist can complete the internal health check of your eyes.
Your pupils may stay dilated for about 4 to 6 hours after your appointment. During this period, your vision will be blurry up close, and your eyes will be sensitive to bright light.
What About A Contact Lens Exam?
A contact lens exam is different from a standard eye exam and takes extra time. If you wear or want to wear contacts, you’ll need a special fitting in addition to your comprehensive exam. This ensures your contacts are healthy and comfortable for your eyes.
The process normally involves:
- Your eye doctor takes extra measurements of the surface of your eyes.
- They check the fit & comfort of your lenses.
- If you’re new to contacts, a team member will show you how to insert, remove, & properly care for your new lenses.
Get Your New Glasses & Contacts After Your Exam
Once your exam is complete and you have your new prescription, the next step is choosing your new eyewear. Our team can help you find frames that fit your style and lenses that meet your vision needs. The wait time for new glasses and contacts is typically short.
How Long To Get Prescription Glasses?
You can usually expect your new prescription glasses to be ready in 7 to 10 business days. The exact time can depend on your specific prescription and any additional lens features that you choose. We’ll let you know when your glasses are ready for pickup.
How Long To Get Contacts?
Contacts often arrive in about a week. In some cases, you might be able to leave your appointment with a set of trial lenses to wear right away. For future refills, you can even order your contacts online and have them shipped directly to your home for convenience.
Your family’s vision is an important part of their overall health, and regular exams help keep it that way. Here at Pine Creek Vision Clinic, we take the time to listen to your concerns and provide care that fits your needs. If you’re ready to book an appointment for yourself or a family member, we’re here to help.
