Regular eye exams with your eye doctor are important if you want to keep your eyes and vision healthy in the long run. However, the terminology around eye exams can be confusing. Vision screenings, medical eye exams, routine vision exams, and comprehensive eye exams are some of the terms for appointments that check your eye health and vision.

It’s a common misconception that all eye exams are the same, but this is far from the truth. The question is, what distinguishes a basic eye exam from a comprehensive eye exam? Below are five differences between the two.

1. Purpose

A typical basic eye exam aims to determine if you have any vision problems, such as refractive eye errors like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, and presbyopia.

In contrast, a comprehensive eye exam is more extensive than a basic exam. In addition to checking your vision, your eye doctor will carefully check the health of your eyes as a whole and look for common eye diseases.

2. Duration

A routine eye exam usually takes 30 minutes or less, while a full eye exam can take anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes on average. However, various factors could extend the length of your visit to an optometrist’s office.

3. Frequency

Most patients are advised to have a basic eye exam and a comprehensive eye exam at least once every two years. But your eye doctor may want you to get comprehensive eye exams more often if you already have an eye problem or if there are any other concerns.

4. Insurance Coverage

Your provider, policy, and plan will have a lot to do with whether and how much your eye exam is covered by insurance. Insurance companies may cover comprehensive and basic eye exams differently. They may also ask for a co-pay or give discounts on glasses and contacts.

There are also differences in how often eye exams are covered. Some plans cover them every year. Others cover them every two years. Patients need to be aware of their coverage and any associated costs.

5. What to Expect

Basic eye exams are easy to do and don’t always need an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Opticians, nurses, and other medical professionals can administer the test.

A typical vision test comprises a series of simple vision assessments, such as:
 

• Using the Big E or Snellen chart to test your visual acuity

• Assessing your eye’s reaction to light and muscle coordination using charts or following a light

• Testing for color blindness using color charts such as the Ishihara Color test

When you go for a comprehensive eye exam, the specific tests included may vary depending on your overall vision and eye health. But most eye exams will include a few key tests to check your vision and eye health as a whole. These usually include visual acuity tests to see how clear your vision is and color blindness screenings. It may also include cover tests to see how well your eyes work together and ocular motility tests to see how well your eyes move.

Other tests will likely assess for glaucoma by measuring the pressure in your eyes. A slit-lamp exam may also be performed to inspect the structures of your eyes more closely and identify potential conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, corneal ulcers, or diabetic retinopathy.

Don’t neglect your eye health. The first step to keeping your eyes healthy and clear is to make an appointment at Nina J Cox, OD PC. Call (804) 531-5700 right now to make an appointment for a routine eye exam or a full eye exam in North Chesterfield, Virginia.