Eye Exam

Most people who have never had a formal eye exam as an adult not only don't know the average cost of the eye exam, but they may not know what the eye exam is all about either. It is more than just naming letters, numbers, and shapes from an eye chart. Though some years you can get away with only this basic type of testing, at least once every two years, your doctor will ask you to take short, optional tests (that don't add additional cost) that can help him or her determine if you will have other future vision problems or need additional testing in the future.

They may ask you to have your pupils dilated. This means they are going to enlarge your pupils in order to take a closer look inside to look for possible vision problems. They do this by putting drops in your eyes to temporarily paralyze one of your eye muscles and allow the pupils to enlarge and be seen more clearly, including the blood flow.

They may also require a glaucoma test. Initially, this is just a quick puff of air in each eye to see how your eye reacts to it. Based on the results of the initial test, they may order additional testing. It is advisable to get one or both of these tests done at least once every other year. Neither one should add very much additional eye exam cost, if any at all.

If you decline, most optometrists will ask you to sign or initial an area on your exam chart that says you declined to test for that particular vision problem.

Eye exams will cost differing amounts, depending on what exactly you want the eye exam to cover. For instance, if you get an eye exam with the express notion of only buying eyeglasses, then the exam will cost a certain amount of dollars. However, if you want to get an exam that will cover you for contact lenses, as well as eyeglasses (since the prescription for each is written and achieved differently), then the cost will be higher.

The eye exam cost should be considered as a recurring yearly expense. This is because you should see your optometrist at least once a year, even if you feel your vision has not changed. Even if your contact lenses or eyeglasses still feel the same and you don't think you need a stronger or weaker prescription, you should still get an annual eye exam to make sure no other vision problems have developed.

Your insurance should cover most if not all of the eye exam cost. This is of course only if an eye exam is covered in your medical policy or you buy a special policy that is meant specifically for eye exam costs.

No matter what type of eye exam you get, your doctor should have a follow-up exam scheduled for you. This eye exam cost should be included with your original fee. It is usually scheduled for a week after you receive your vision correction aids - whether that be contact lenses, eyeglasses, or even laser vision repair (though the follow-up time on this, since it is surgery, can vary).

During the follow-up eye exam, your optometrist will ask you how your eyes feel, and whether you still have trouble with your vision or not. They will often re-test you to make sure there are no issues.

If you chose contact lenses, you should report any watery eyes, itchiness, or redness that may have occurred with your new lenses. If you are having any issues cleaning, removing, or inserting them, then you should let them know at this time, as well.

If your eyes hurt or you experience any vision problems after your laser eye surgery, you should call your doctor and let them know immediately. You don't have to wait for the follow-up eye exam in order to do this, nor would your doctor expect you to do so.

For those who chose eyeglasses, they can have them fitted so they fit properly on the bridge of the nose. A few simple adjustments are all it takes, and you may be surprised at the difference it can make in your vision.

Ophthalmologists. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who provide full eye care, such as giving you a complete eye exam, prescribing corrective lenses, diagnosing and treating complex eye diseases, and performing eye surgery.

ptometrists. Optometrists provide many of the same services as ophthalmologists, such as evaluating your vision, prescribing corrective lenses, diagnosing common eye disorders and treating selected eye diseases with drugs. But you'll likely be referred to an ophthalmologist for more complex eye problems and for conditions requiring surgery.

Opticians. Opticians fill prescriptions for eyeglasses, including assembling, fitting and selling them. Some opticians also sell and fit contact lenses. Which specialist you choose may be a matter of personal preference, or one specialist may be best for treating your particular eye concern.

What to expect from your doctor If you're seeing a new eye doctor or if you're having your first eye exam, expect questions about your vision history. Your answers to these questions help your eye doctor understand your risk of eye disease and vision problems. Be prepared to give specific information, including:

Are you having any eye problems now?

Have you had any eye problems in the past?

Were you born prematurely?

Do you wear glasses or contacts now? If so, are you satisfied with them?

What health problems have you had in recent years?

Are you taking any medications?

Do you have any allergies to medications, food or other substances?

Has anyone in your family had eye problems, such as cataracts or glaucoma?

Has anyone in your family had diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or any other health problems that can affect the whole body?

If you wear contact lenses, bring them to your appointment. Your eye doctor will want to make sure your prescription is the best one for you. Also be prepared to remove your contacts for certain exams. Tests that use orange dye (fluorescein) to temporarily color your eye may permanently dye your contact lenses, so take them out before those types of tests.

Click here to read more from mayoclinic.com

As the human body ages, many times the eyes will begin to age and decline in their vision capabilities as well. Presbyopia is arguably the most common of these. At ages 40 and up, presbyopia can begin to make it difficult to do tasks that used to be simple such as reading. An eye exam can correct this vision problem with eyeglasses, or you can simply buy a non-prescription pair of glasses, reading glasses, at the drug store for this common ailment.

Unfortunately, not all vision problems are that easy to cure. Diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration (AMD) can all severely compromise your vision and possibly even lead to partial or full blindness. These diseases can be easily diagnosed with an eye exam that will allow your optometrist to give you treatment options and prepare you for what happens next.

Some people with certain vision problems can opt to stop using contact lenses or eyeglasses altogether and go for permanent vision correction instead. This would mean using very precise lasers in order to make incisions in the eye that would allow significant improvement in your vision.

The eye exam cost for this is usually zero, even without insurance. This is because most doctors who offer laser vision correction will give you a free exam and consultation to see if you are an optimum patient for this type of vision correction. If you are, then they can proceed with setting up an appointment for you. This includes the actual surgery itself, which is done on a outpatient basis. You will still need at least two days to recover, however, and you should have somebody handy to help you around your house while your eyes heal from the surgery. Most people can get it done on a Monday and return to work on a Wednesday without incident and with perfect vision.

Not everyone can get laser vision correction. Those with severe eye problems or infections may not be eligible, and some people are just afraid of the surgery, even though it has been done millions of times without incident.

An eye exam does not have to be a daunting experience. You simply find an optometrist you trust or one that is recommended or approved through your insurance. If you have insurance, call ahead if necessary to get approval, and then make an appointment for your eye exam.

You can get an eye exam for glasses, contact lenses, or both at the same time. You may also be asked to go through some special testing such as the glaucoma test that is a quick puff of air into each eye. You may also be asked to have your pupils dilated, which means you might need a friend or loved one to drive you home, should the dilation last more than an hour or so.

There are also separate eye exams for laser vision repair, which is a short outpatient procedure that permanently corrects your vision, so you don't need to wear glasses or contact lenses ever again.

The eye exam cost for each type various according to doctor and area you live in. If you have insurance, the eye exam cost may be a small deductible that you pay up front, with your insurance covering the rest.

You should have yearly eye exams to make sure your vision problems have not changed, and to make sure that you do not have additional eye problems, such as those that come with aging like glaucoma, cataracts, and AMD.