As a working professional, it is never easy to sit in front of the computer during your 9-5 job. Your eyes may experience strain, resulting in discomfort. It just won’t go away once you take some rest. You can neither change the number of hours you’re in front of a computer at work nor the factors that can cause eye strain. The only thing in your control is to get an eye exam appointment to prevent further complications.
What Should You Expect During Your Eye Checkup?
Before the Eye Test
At eye care clinics like Salisbury Optometrist, we have treated complex eye conditions for the past ten years. When you visit our clinic, we give you a health history form to learn about your specific medical disorders to see if it is related to the eye condition. We also find out if any particular activity (in your case, it’s prolonged digital strain) affects your eyes. Through this form, we use questions to learn about the medications that suit you or don’t suit you.
During Eye Examination Check Up
Eye Muscle Movement Test
It is about checking your eyes’ alignment. The doctor will watch as your eyes move while you follow a target ( like a pen or a fingertip) in different directions.
Cover Test
This test helps us to understand how your eyes work together. You will stare at a tiny target some distance away. We cover and uncover each eye to check the movement of your eyes with a small paddle. The same procedure also involves bringing the object closer to you. This test detects strabismus, which may result in lazy eye, poor depth perception, and binocular vision issues.
Visual Acuity
Here, you will sit in front of an eye chart called the Snellen Chart. It is a pyramidal chart of a number of lines of letters. In this chart, the size of the letters becomes smaller as you read down each line. We will cover one eye while the other eye remains open; you have to read each letter until you can’t read them anymore. This test can diagnose disorders such as myopia (short-sightedness) and hyperopia (far-sightedness). We recommend bifocal glasses to see objects both close and far from you in case you have both types of eye problems.
Tests for Glaucoma
It is a painless procedure to check if the pressure inside your eyes is within a normal range. We use a non-contact tonometer as one of the principle tests. All you have to do is stare at a target. The machine will let out a small puff of air into each eye. We observe how your eyes resist the puff, indicating the pressure inside them. This test detects glaucoma. If untreated, it may cause permanent damage to the optic nerve, resulting in loss of vision.
Perimetry Examination
The doctors will map what you see at the edges of your visual field and will use this map to diagnose eye conditions. The blind spots detected in your peripheral vision can detect the onset of glaucoma and other eye conditions.
Test of Refraction
This test helps us see if there are any problems in the way your eyes focus light onto your retina. It is either done manually or with a machine that measures the amount of light reflected by your retina. It is helpful in diagnosing astigmatism(refractive problems related to the shape of the lens), myopia, presbyopia(an age-related condition of the lens), and so on.
Binoculars Slit-Lamp Examination
During a slit lamp test, your doctor will use a specialized microscope that magnifies and lights up the front of your eye. The doctor uses it to check your cornea, eyelids, conjunctiva, and iris and then moves into the deeper structures of the eyes, ending with the optic nerve. This test allows for the diagnosis of a number of conditions, such as cataracts.
Procedure for Dilation
During your eye exam, your doctor may check your pupils in a dilated form using an ophthalmoscope. This tool is used to see the back of your eyes—the retina, retinal blood vessels, fluid in your eyes, and the head of your optic nerve.
After your eye checkup, the doctor may recommend glasses or lenses based on your eye condition. We may also recommend some tips to prevent strain in your eyes while you work in front of a computer in the workplace.
Tips to Prevent Eye Strain during Computer Work
You can use these tips to prevent eye strain while working on the computer.
- Adjust the lighting on your computer or laptop to prevent direct light from shining in your eyes.
- Take occasional rests during your work. It is essential to rest your eyes by looking away from the digital screen. You can try the 20-20-20 rule to give your eyes some rest.
- You can use eye drops to prevent dry eye symptoms as recommended by your doctor.
- After your eye exam, your doctor may recommend glasses or contact lenses, especially for computer work, to reduce strain. The doctor may recommend bifocal glasses so that you can read the content on the computer properly.
What to Do Next?
When the eye exam is complete, follow the doctor’s prescription to prevent further eye strain. Our eye doctor prescribes you glasses for your visual needs. Now, it’s time for you to pick the best frames based on your style. Most importantly, take frequent breaks to prevent eye strain while using your computer. Contact Salisbury Optometrist to learn about our eyeglasses and doctor’s consultations.