If you ever read a summary of a comprehensive exam, you may get a little confused by all the technical vision terms. To try to make it more easy to understand, I have listed a below a brief explanation of the testing done during a comprehensive eye and vision exam.
This does not cover every single test, but the majority of them. Because each patient is different, each exam uses different tests. You may find a Glossary of Vision Terms helpful, as well.
- MEDICAL HISTORY: Questions about past and current medical problems.
- VISUAL HISTORY: Questions about past and current vision problems.
- VISUAL ACUITY: Sharpness or clearness of eyesight at a specific distance.
- KERATOMETRY: Measures the shape of the front part of the eye (the cornea) where light enters.
- EXTRA OCULAR MUSCLES: Measures how accurately the eyes move while following an object and looking back and forth between targets.
- COVER TEST (NEAR): Measures the amount that the eyes are misaligned while looking at near.
- COVER TEST (DIST): Measures the amount that the eyes are misaligned while looking at distance.
- NEAR POINT CONVERGENCE: Measures the ability to converge – the eyes turning towards each other when looking at an object up close.
- STEREOPSIS: Measures the ability of the eyes to work together to see fine detail with depth perception “3D”.
- NEAR POINT ACCOMMODATION: Measures how close each eye is able to see clearly.
- PHORIA (NEAR): Measures the amount that the eyes are misaligned while looking at near.
- PHORIA (DISTANCE): Measures the amount that the eyes are misaligned while looking at distance.
- NEAR VERGENCE (BI): Measures the ability to converge – the eyes turning towards each other when looking at an object up close.
- NEAR VERGENCE (BO): Measures the ability to diverge – the eyes turning outwards at an object.
- ACA RATIO: Measures how much the eyes converge while focusing up close.
- NEGATIVE RELATIVE ACCOMMODATION: Measures the maximum ability to relax focusing while maintaining clear, single binocular vision.
- POSITIVE RELATIVE ACCOMMODATION: Measures the maximum ability to focus while maintaining clear, single binocular vision.
- MEM RETINOSCOPY: Measures the accuracy of focusing while looking at an object up close.
- REFRACTION: Measures the nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism of the eyes.
- EXTERNAL EXAM: Determines health of the eyes by observation.
- SLIT-LAMP EXAM: Determines the health of the eyes with a microscope.
- OPHTHALMOSCOPY: Uses special lenses to look inside the eye for diseases.
- TONOMETRY: Measures the pressure inside the eyes.
- DILATION ORDERS: Specifies the type of eye drops and method used to evaluate inside the eyes.
- CUP/DISC RATIO: A way of measuring the health of the optic nerve. Useful in glaucoma and other eye disease cases.
- ASSESSMENT: States what the known visual or eye health problems are.
- PLAN: Summarizes the recommendations for the treatment of the problems.
Be Well!
Dr. Bonilla-Warford
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
