About Eye Tests for Reading Glasses
A visit to an optometrist will help to determine if a patient needs reading glasses and if so, what type they will need. An optometrist is licensed and trained to check the eyes for visual defects, diagnose impairments and prescribe medication or corrective lenses. There are several different tests eye doctors uses to determine if reading glasses necessary.
Retinoscopy
A retinscopy is a visual examination of the retina; the purpose is to measure the refractive error of light in the pupil of a patient's eye. While a patient looks at an eye chart, the doctor checks light reflection from the eyes; by observing the light, an eye doctor can determine the conditions of either nearsightedness or farsightedness. Nearsightedness, or Myopia, means difficulty seeing things at a distance and Farsightedness, or Hyperopia, means difficulty seeing up-close.
Refraction
A refraction eye test involves sitting in a chair with a phoroptor device attached. The patient looks through the device at a chart 20 feet away while the eye doctor will switch between different lenses for the patient to look through. The doctor will ask the patient which of the lenses provides the clearest view.
Cover Test
A cover test is used to determine if a patient's eyes work well together. The eye doctor has the patient focus on an object across the room while each eye is alternately covered one-at-a-time. It will be assessed whether or not the uncovered eye moves toward the fixation target. The cover test helps to determine if there are binocular vision problems that can cause eyestrain.
Slit-Lamp Examination
A slit lamp exam checks for signs of infection or disease, cataracts, corneal ulcers, diabetic eye disorders, and other types of macular degeneration. A slit-lamp machine allows the doctor to get a highly magnified view of the structure of the eye. The machine shines light directly onto the eyes while the doctor looks through a set of oculars, similar to a microscope. Performing this test is essential to the process of helping eye doctors prescribe reading glasses more effectively.