After your eye exam, we’ll help you choose glasses, lenses, or contact lenses to suit your prescription and lifestyle needs.
Eye exams,
what’s to expect?
Every Step Explained
1. Eye Exam Preparation
Come in a little earlier
If you can, please arrive 15 minutes before your eye exam so there’s plenty of time to check through your details and get you ready for your appointment.
If you wear glasses
Please bring your current pair along with you.
If you wear contact lenses
Please bring your contact lenses and, if you use them, case and solution, as you’ll need to remove your lenses for the exam.
List of your medication
It’s useful for your optometrist to know all the medications, supplements, and eye drops you’re currently using, even if it isn’t directly related to an eye health problem. Several medications can impact your eyes, vision, and management plans following your eye exam. Knowing your medication, dosage, and how often you take them helps your optometrist provide the best care possible.
Vision insurance details
If you’re a vision plan member, you can get a comprehensive eye exam for free or at least partially.
2. Diagnosis or Pretest
Diagnostic testing and optometrist consultation
Each test room is thoroughly cleaned before each person we see, and we’ll be using protective equipment where required. We’re also limiting the number of people in our consulting rooms to just you, the optometrist, and the eyecare consultant, but carers are welcome to come in if needed.
Diagnostic testing
Before you see your optometrist, one of our eyecare consultants will carry out some diagnostic tests. These tests provide the optometrist with important information to help them assess the health of your eyes.
Tonoref
This equipment measures the internal pressure of your eyes, generates an approximate measure of your vision, and scans the curvature and thickness of the front surface of your eye. These tests help the optometrist assess your vision and identify any potential risk of eye conditions.
Tonometry test
This measures the internal pressure of your eyes by blowing a gentle puff of air onto the surface of each eye. It’s one of several eye health checks that allows the optometrist to assess your risk of developing glaucoma.
Lensometer
If you have an existing prescription and have brought your glasses along, the eyecare consultant will use a lensometer to measure your existing prescription.
VISUAL FIELD test
This test maps out your entire field of vision, including your peripheral (side) vision, to identify any blind spots or areas of reduced sensitivity. You’ll focus on a central point while lights of varying intensity appear in your peripheral vision. By pressing a button each time you see a light, the optometrist can assess your visual field for potential issues, such as early signs of glaucoma or other conditions affecting the optic nerve or the brain. This is a quick and painless process.
3. Optometrist Consultation
Optometrist consultation
Once your diagnostic tests are done, you’re ready to see the optometrist. At times during the eye exam, the optometrist will need to be closer to you than social distancing recommendations, but they’ll comply with all regulatory guidelines for healthcare professionals.
Eye health history
Your optometrist will start by discussing your eye health history, family history, and how they can help with your visual needs or any problems you may be experiencing. They’ll also review the information from your diagnostic tests and talk through the results with you.
Further assessments
During your eye exam, your optometrist will carry out further assessments tailored to your visual needs. These are done to check your vision, the health of your eyes, and look for any signs of medical conditions affecting your eyes.
Refraction test
This test determines whether you need prescription lenses and, if so, which prescription you need to see clearly.
Slitlamp and lens
The optometrist uses this microscope to examine the health of your eyes from front to back.
Vision and eye health recommendations
Based on your needs, the optometrist may make recommendations for vision and eye health or suggest further assessments.
Dilated fundus examination
This involves adding painless eye drops to enlarge your pupils, allowing the optometrist to get a wider and clearer view inside your eyes. Eye dilation can make your vision blurry and your eyes sensitive to light for a few hours, so it’s best to arrange for someone to drive you home if you have this test.
4. Glasses Selection and Ordering
Prescription and glasses selection
STYLE CONSULTATION
We’ll take the time to understand your personal style and preferences. Whether you have specific frames in mind or are open to suggestions, our experienced staff will provide a personalized consultation to help you find frames that are both fashionable and functional for your everyday life.
Measurements
Once you’ve chosen your glasses, the eyecare consultant will take careful measurements to ensure your new glasses fit perfectly using digital precision eyecare technology.
Lens options
The eyecare consultant will show you how different lens options can enhance your glasses to suit your lifestyle needs using a ‘real-time’ demonstration.
Custom-made glasses
After taking your measurements and lens selections, the eyecare consultant will send them to the lab, where your glasses will be custom-made for you. They’ll also let you know when your glasses will be ready for collection.
You don’t have an appointment yet?
Care
for your
eyes
for your
eyes
Book an appointment
Ensure your vision is in expert hands. Book your next eye exam quickly and conveniently through our online booking module, or locate the nearest Laurier Optical store for personalized service. Schedule your appointment today.