Eye Tests

Tonometry: A test that measures pressure in the eye, called intraocular pressure. Your doctor uses it to check for glaucoma.

Slit lamp examination: A physician or optometrist shines a vertical slit of light across your eye while looking through a microscope. It can help find many eye problems.

Fundoscopic exam: The doctor may give you special eye drops to widen your pupil (he'll call this dilation). Then he or she shines a bright light into the back of the eye so he can see your retina.

Refraction: If you have a vision problem, the doctor will place a series of lenses in front of each eye, one at a time, to figure out your prescription for corrective lenses.

Visual acuity test: You’ll read a series of ever-smaller letters from across the room. This helps the doctor spot distance vision problems. Reading up-close can help him find problems with near vision.

Fluorescein angiography: The doctor injects a fluorescent dye into a vein to take a series of retinal images.

Regular adult eye exam: This collection of tests may include the ones mentioned above plus others, like eye movement.