General Eye Conditions and Tests
What happens at a comprehensive eye examination?
A comprehensive eye examination checks how well you see, what glasses you need, the pressure inside your eyes and the health of the front and back of each eye. It is painless and usually takes about an hour, longer if dilating drops are used. It detects glaucoma, diabetic changes and macular disease before symptoms appear.
What is included
- History of your symptoms, general health, medications and family eye conditions
- Vision measurement in each eye, and refraction to determine your prescription
- Eye pressure measurement
- Examination of the lids, tear film, cornea, iris and lens at the slit lamp
- Dilated examination of the retina, macula and optic disc
- Where indicated, visual field testing, optical coherence tomography and retinal imaging
Preparing for your visit
- Bring your current glasses and any previous prescriptions
- Bring a list of all medicines, including eye drops
- Bring previous reports, scans or visual field printouts if you have them
- Arrange for someone to drive you home in case drops are used
- Bring sunglasses
- If you wear contact lenses, bring your glasses and ask in advance how long to leave the lenses out
How often to attend
Healthy adults are generally examined every two years. Yearly examination is advised for people with diabetes, those with glaucoma or a family history of it, people of African ancestry from about forty years of age, people with high prescriptions, and anyone using long term steroid medication. Children should be examined before school and then every one to two years.
Booking
Standard Eye Specialist Hospital is at 9 Iwopin Close, Area 1, Garki, FCT, Abuja. Appointments run Monday to Saturday and can be requested through the booking link on this website or by calling 0703 943 0326.
Frequently asked questions
- Will my eyes be dilated every time?
- Not always, but dilation is needed for a proper view of the retina, so expect it at a first visit and at diabetic or retinal reviews.
- Is a comprehensive examination the same as a glasses test?
- No. A glasses test measures your prescription. A comprehensive examination also assesses eye pressure and the health of the eye, which is how conditions like glaucoma are found early.
Concerned about these symptoms?
Arrange an eye examination with our consultant ophthalmologist in Garki, Abuja.
Related answers
- What does a diabetic eye examination involve?
- What is a refractive error?
- Why do I need reading glasses after forty?
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