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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you're having problems with your vision, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible, even if you've recently had an eye exam. Blurred vision may suggest you need a prescription change or have a more serious eye problem that may need treatment.
Presbyopia is diagnosed by a basic eye exam, which is generally administered by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. A complete eye exam involves a series of tests. Your eye doctor likely will put drops in your eye to dilate your pupils, which may make your eyes more light sensitive for a few hours after the exam. Dilation enables your doctor to more easily evaluate the inside of your eye.
Your doctor may use various instruments, aim bright lights at your eyes and request that you look through an array of lenses to test your distance and close-up vision. Each test allows your doctor to evaluate a different aspect of your vision. The entire exam may take about 45 to 90 minutes.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that you have a complete eye exam:
- At least once between the ages of 20 and 29
- At least twice between the ages of 30 and 39
- Every two to four years between ages 40 and 64
- Every one to two years beginning at age 65
Depending on the findings of your exam, your doctor may recommend more frequent examinations. For example, if you wear glasses or contacts, your eyes may need to be checked more often. Ask your doctor what he or she recommends.
- Optometric clinical practice guideline: Care of the patient with presbyopia. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/documents/CPG-17.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Eye exams. Eye care America: The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.eyecareamerica.org/eyecare/treatment/eye-exams.cfm. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Adult vision: 41 to 60 years of age. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/x9453.xml. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Learning about LASIK. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik. Accessed March 11, 2009
- Pepose, J. Maximizing satisfaction with presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses: The missing links. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2008;146:641.
- Questions and answers about refractive errors. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/CanWeSee/qa_refractive.asp. Accessed March 11, 2009.
