During an eye exam, the following steps typically occur:

1. Medical History Review: The eye care professional asks about the patient’s medical history, including any current medications, eye conditions, and family history of eye diseases.
2. Visual Acuity Test: The patient’s ability to see at various distances is tested using an eye chart. This helps determine the need for corrective lenses.
3. Refraction Test: Determines the correct prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses by using a phoropter to measure how light bends as it enters the eye.
4. Eye Muscle Test: Assesses the function of the eye muscles and their ability to control eye movement.
5. Slit-Lamp Examination: A specialized microscope provides a magnified view of the eye’s structures, including the cornea, iris, lens, and retina.
6. Pupil Dilation: Drops are used to widen the pupils, allowing a better view of the eye’s internal structures. This helps detect diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration.
7. Intraocular Pressure Measurement: Tests for glaucoma by measuring the pressure inside the eye. This is often done using a tonometer.
8. Retinal Examination: The back of the eye is examined to check the health of the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels.
9. Additional Tests: Depending on the patient’s age, risk factors, and symptoms, additional tests like peripheral vision testing, color vision testing, or optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be conducted.