Do you know the difference between a vision screening and an eye exam? Well, a surprising number of people don’t. That’s why we’ve put together this article to outline some of their main differences. Hopefully you will find it beneficial to your or your family’s eye health.
What is a vision screening?
Essentially, a vision screening is a basic test that can be completed by a general practitioner, school nurse, or other certified health care professional. While it doesn’t diagnose a specific condition, it can identify if a person is experiencing eye problems that could lead to vision loss.
The benefit of this test is that it requires no specialized equipment. It can also serve as a helpful tool to determine if you need a referral to a company like 1001 Optometry for an eye care appointment.
However, to ensure accuracy, vision screening needs to be performed by people who have tried it using scientifically proven, age-appropriate equipment and methods.
What is the vision screening procedure?
Vision screening consists of three elements that should be done in combination to maximize its effectiveness in detecting any potentially serious eye disease.
vision test
The test is performed by covering one eye at a time and reading a series of letters on a chart, usually 20 feet away.
They are arranged in horizontal rows, with the font size getting smaller towards the bottom, and are suitable for everyone aged 3 and up.
Pupil and eye examination
The test can be done on people of all ages, including babies. It is designed to assess the color, shape and size of your eyes, which should be the same and shrink in size in response to light.
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This easy-to-use, automated method requires examining a specialized camera designed to detect conditions such as refractive errors.
What is an eye exam?
Typically, eye exams are performed by a professional ophthalmologist or optometrist who has the skills, experience, and knowledge to detect a variety of eye problems.
They will be able to identify and treat some of the following conditions through a thorough evaluation of your eyes:
- macular degeneration,
- cataract
- Amblyopia (also known as lazy eye)
- glaucoma
- Cross-eyed (cross-eyed)
- diabetic retinopathy
- Insufficient convergence
- Refractive errors (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism)
It is recommended that most people have an eye exam at least every two years. However, people under 18 and over 65 can benefit from an annual eye exam.
What to expect during an eye exam
During your eye exam, one of the first questions the examiner will ask you is your family and medical history. They do this not to be nosy, but to determine whether you may be at risk for a range of genetic eye conditions.
Once this is done, they will examine your eyes, which should include a thorough check of the following:
- your pupils and outer eye
- peripheral vision
- eye alignment
- vision
- Eye dilation
- distance vision and near vision
- Intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye)
- Binocular
Typically, a comprehensive eye exam can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to complete, depending on whether your ophthalmologist or optometrist wants to test anything specific.
They may also ask you to complete more specialized testing if you are over 65 and have a history of certain eye-related diseases in your family.
Children’s Vision Screening
Because children grow rapidly, which can affect their vision, it is important to check them regularly with vision screenings.
Usually, the school will do this for you. But if your child doesn’t do this, it’s best to take your child to their GP. This is especially necessary if you see your child squinting or rubbing their eyes frequently, as this may indicate an underlying problem.
In addition to eye charts, younger children can be screened by matching symbols or using specialized equipment that measures light reflection or eye position.
Vision Screening and Eye Examination
Vision screenings and eye exams play an important role in helping you maintain optimal eye health, so it’s important to have these exams regularly.
The former can be done in a convenient location, such as your local GP or your child’s school, and can be a good way of identifying your vision problems. However, since the person doing the exam is not an eye specialist, they cannot make a specific diagnosis, only determine what is wrong.
This is the main purpose of an eye exam, which is always performed by a qualified and experienced expert in the field.
These professionals will not only test your vision, but also examine your overall eye health. Most importantly, they will be able to prescribe any corrective treatments needed for the condition they identify and produce a baseline for comparison in future assessments.
