Overview of an eye test

An eye test is a series of tests carried out by an optometrist. These tests assess your vision, ability to focus and recognise objects, as well as some other tests related to the eyes.

Eye tests play a huge part in making sure your eyes stay healthy. Not only are they important for indicating whether you need to start wearing glasses or need to change your prescription, but also for detecting some common eye conditions.

How often should you go for an eye test?

If your optometrist doesn’t have any concerns about your vision or eye health, you should have your eyes tested every two years.

Children should have their eyes tested every year.

The eye test process

The optometrist will check the health of your eyes and look for signs of other medical conditions. They will ask you if you are experiencing any eye problems and about your general health and lifestyle.

To fine-tune their findings, they will ask you to read a test chart through different strength lenses. This lets them know which lenses give you the best vision possible.

Once all the relevant tests have been carried out, your optometrist will be able to discuss the results and offer any advice. This could be a simple ‘all clear’, or they might talk you through particular options to match your lifestyle. Treatments for any eye conditions are also discussed at this point as well as possible referral to a specialist.

There are a few types of tests and equipment developed to assess different aspects of our eyes and vision.

Some are common to all eye tests, such as:

The letter chart that indicates how clearly you can see
A light shone into the eye that allows a good view of the eye’s structures

Others tests may be used when further investigations are required, for example, to check if the eyes can see colour normally.