How to Prepare For An Eye Exam

How to Prepare For an Eye Exam

It is essential that you see your eye doctor every year. Because vision loss can come gradually, you may not realize that you need correction until you have your eyes examined. There are certain diseases of the eye such as glaucoma and macular degeneration that show no symptoms until permanent vision loss has occurred. If your eye doctor catches the condition early, you can begin treatment that will slow the progression of the disease, preventing or delaying permanent vision loss. After scheduling your eye exam, there are a few things that you should do to prepare. When you are properly prepared, you will be able to get the most out of your examination.

Bring a List of Your Medications

Before your visit, you should make a list of your medications, the dosage, and how often you take them. You should also include any vitamins and supplements that you take on your list.

Primary Care Physician's Contact Information

Your eye doctor will need your primary care physician's name, address, and telephone number. If you have any condition that would require your eye doctor to contact your primary care physician, they will need to have the contact information on file. If you have Kaiser Permanente for your health insurance we ask that you provide us with your medical record number.

Wear Your Contacts, Bring Your Glasses

If you wear contact lenses, you should wear them for the visit. To be able to order a new supply of contacts, you will need a contact lens evaluation.  It is important to know how your past lenses are performing and the best way to know that is to see them on your eyes. Depending on their performance and your eye health, you may or may not be able to continue with the same brand. Your eye doctor will also want to test your vision with your glasses. This helps us determine changes in prescription as well as the performance of your glasses.

Find a Ride to the Appointment

During your eye exam, Dr. Krister L. Holmberg and Dr. Shephali Patel will want to dilate your pupils. This will give them the best look into your eye so that they can detect any diseases or conditions early. After your pupils are dilated, your up close vision will be blurry your distance vision may be blurry. Some people find it difficult to drive home afterword. If possible, you should find a ride to your appointment. If you cannot find a ride, Drs. Holmberg and Patel will discuss options before putting the drops on your eyes.

It is essential that you schedule an appointment every year with Arena Eye Care Optometry. Annual exams will ensure the health of your eyes.