What happens at an eye test — forty-five minutes, step by step

Before you sit down

A few questions: how you see, any problems, your health and medicines, your work, your family’s eyes. Half of what we find is pointed at by the answers, so this isn’t small talk.

The twelve checks, in order

1. How well you see — the letters, each eye, with and without your current glasses.
2. Your prescription — the “better one or two?” part, refined until the letters are as sharp as they’ll go.
3. How the eyes work together — muscle balance, whether they’re pulling against each other.
4. Pupils — how they react to light.
5. Pressure — the puff of air, or a gentler probe; over-forties always.
6. The front of the eye — lids, lashes, tear film, cornea, lens, under the microscope. Cataract, dry eye and blepharitis show up here.
7. The retina, photographed — a picture we keep and compare next time.
8. The optic nerve — the glaucoma check.
9. Peripheral vision — where fields are needed.
10. Colour vision — where it matters for you.
11. Eye movements.
12. The 3D OCT scan — on Gold and Platinum: the layers behind the retina.

Nothing hurts. Drops are only used if we need to see the back of the eye more widely, and we’ll say so.

The conversation

What we found, on the screen, in plain English. What it means. What, if anything, to do. If you need glasses, a dispensing optician takes over; if you don’t, you leave with your prescription, and the choice is yours.

What you leave with

Your prescription, always — it’s yours. A copy of anything we’ve written to your GP or the hospital. A recall date that means something.

The short version

• A few questions, then twelve checks, then the OCT scan on Gold
• Nothing hurts; drops only if needed and explained
• Everything explained on the screen, in plain English
• You leave with your prescription, whatever you decide about glasses

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