How long does a standard eye test take?
We are always stressing how important a yearly eye exam is, but you may be wondering just how much time will this take? Feeling like you are too busy is a commonly heard reason as to why people do not come in annually. It is easy to get overwhelmed these days and not feel like you have the time to take for yourself, however we can not stress enough how important it is and how it really does not have to be an all day endeavor.
As with anything, the length of time an eye exam will take can vary from person to person. Typically, we can get you in and out of an annual eye exam in around 25-45 minutes. From the time you arrive to the time you leave, generally takes under an hour. Younger people with good health generally can be some of the fastest to get in and out. Whereas people with a history of medical concerns will take a bit longer to make sure we go over everything.
If you are a new patient, this will take a bit longer as we establish you in our systems and make sure to have a complete evaluation for a baseline to work with going forward. If you are already a glasses and/or contacts wearer, we will want to check to make sure the fit or the lenses is working well for you. If you are a returning patient, this is when we see the fastest in and out around that 25-30 minute mark.
Of course, should any concerns arise, this could take more time as we may want to run additional tests. As with any medical concern, the sooner something is detected, the better the prognosis. Any changes in your vision should always trigger a concern that you should get your eyes checked out. Even when you have had healthy clear vision your whole life, an annual exam is best practice to ensure the longevity of your vision.
What happens at an eye exam?
First when you come in, we will go over your medical history and see if there is any potential red flags to keep watch for. People with diabetes for example can have complications with their vision as the diabetes progresses, so we want to notate this and check for some of the early warning signs of diabetic retinopathy. We will also ask if you have been having any known problems like blurry vision, harder to read text close or far away, any trouble at night or while driving, or even headaches in the eye area. If you find you are having dry eye or irritation, please be sure to mention this as well.
From there, we will begin our exam with you in the big chair. Depending on what we uncover in our initial talk, we will take a look at your overall eye health through a series of tests. Often we use a light to help see deeper in the eye and have you look in different directions to get a full view. Our machine will also test your vision to see how close to 20/20 you really are. If you have a hard time reading the letters on the wall in different sizes, we will test a series of lenses to determine what your prescription should be.
Depending on your age and circumstances, we may want to test for glaucoma. This is a pressure test where we use puffs of air that can feel a bit weird but is very quick. We may need to dilate your eyes, which will not prevent you from seeing, however your pupils will become very large for a few hours and your eyesight may be sensitive to light so having sunglasses with you is a good idea.
If you already wear glasses, bring them with you. If you are a contact lens wearer, have them in or bring them with you as well. It is a good idea to bring both if you wear both, unless your doctor advises you otherwise. During the exam with contacts, it is common for your doctor to check out your eyes while the lenses are in to see how things are fitting and working for you. You often will then need to take them out and put them in solution temporarily so we can get a full clear view of the eye. Most of the time, you will put them back in at the end of the exam but you should always have your glasses with you just in case.
What’s really cool is that we will be able to determine your prescription right away. Should you wish to utilize contacts, we can discuss your options- brands, length of use, etc. We can help you make the best choice specifically for your eyes and help you place an order to have the new ones come in as soon as possible. If you are ready for new glasses, our team can also show you your options on frames and then lenses.
If you have been wearing contacts but are not satisfied with any portion of wearing them from their fit, to the comfort for the day, or the maintenance, we can see about switching you out to a different brand or type. Some people find that daily contacts work better for them than monthly contacts. There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing, and we will be happy to go over all your options.
We can help you place an order same day for new contacts or glasses. Typically these orders come in rather quickly but you should expect a few business days so if you are running low on contacts, then better to come in two weeks before you run out at least.
What are the locations of Perich Eye Centers?
Perich Eye Centers is proud to be a top eye doctor for the Central Florida region. We offer 6 convenient locations all open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm.
New Port Richey HQ
727-372-1311
2020 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL34655Spring Hill
352-683-1160
5363 Spring Hill Drive
Spring Hill, FL 34606Tampa
813-963-2020
11809 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
Tampa, FL 33618The Villages
352-397-2821
13940 US 441, Bldg 500/Suite 503
The Villages, FL 32159Wesley Chapel
727-860-8060
2621 Windguard Circle Suite 101
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544Zephyrhills
813-788-2020
6905 Medical View Lane.
Zephyrhills, FL 33542
Feel free to give the closest location to you a call to schedule your next eye exam, we would love to ensure your vision is its most healthy and clear that it can be!
