What to expect from an ophthalmological consultation?

Eye exams are important to rule out serious eye diseases. They also help determine if your prescription has worsened.

If you have no vision problems, it's recommended that you see an ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam every 5 to 10 years. If you already wear glasses, it's recommended that you see an ophthalmologist annually for a new checkup to rule out any new abnormalities.

Now, if this is your first ophthalmology appointment, you might be wondering what it involves . At Clínica Nivaria, we'll explain it to you:

• The professional will ask the patient the reason for the consultation , specifically if they have experienced or are experiencing any vision problems.
• The questions will be related to visual difficulties , such as "Do you have trouble reading?", "Can you see well at a distance?", etc.
• You will also want to find out about the medications the person is taking, in case they could be the cause of the problem.
• After this brief interview, the ophthalmologist will proceed with the Snellen chart . This chart involves showing the patient increasingly smaller letters and numbers while they look through lenses that change to different prescriptions. Based on how the patient sees these numbers and letters, the professional can determine their level of astigmatism, hyperopia, or myopia.
• A check of lateral and peripheral vision will also be performed .
• On the other hand, the proper functioning of the eye muscles will be checked . The ophthalmologist will observe the eyes with a flashlight while the patient moves them from side to side. In this way, they will examine the condition of the corneas to see if they dilate or constrict when exposed to light.
• The professional will also check if the patient is colorblind . Using cards with numbers made up of colored dots, they will ask you what color you see.
• Through a method called tonometry , the ophthalmologist will rule out the possibility of glaucoma .