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What does an eye exam include?
What does an eye exam include?
June 04, 2026
Your overall health, health history and current eye-related concerns all determine what your unique eye exam and eye care will look like. Your eye exam may include:
- A review of your health history as it relates to your vision
- Screening for environmental conditions related to your occupation, hobbies or other factors that could impact your eye health
- Vision chart tests to measure your visual acuity at near and far distances.
You may also have any of the tests below, which measure your depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, eye muscle function and how pupils respond to light.
- Refraction Tests: During a refraction test, your eye doctor measures how well different lenses you look through focus light. You'll let your eye doctor know which lens option provides you with clearer vision. A refraction test lets your optometrist refine the lens power you need to accurately correct vision problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
- Keratometry Tests: During a keratometry test, your eye doctor will focus a circle of light on your cornea (the clear outer part of your eye) to measure its reflection. This lets your optometrist measure the contour of your eye to assess for astigmatism and to achieve the proper fit for contact lenses.
- Tonometry Tests: Tonometry tests measure your eye pressure to detect pressure-related eye diseases such as glaucoma. Our eyes produce and drain clear fluid, and if your eyes have drainage problems, pressure can build up and damage your optic nerves. During a tonometry test, an instrument releases a small puff of air as a sensor measures the corresponding indentation on your eye’s surface.
- Eye Movement Tests: Your eye doctor may perform tests to assess how well your eyes focus and work together. Eye movement tests let your optometrist identify problems affecting your focus or binocular vision.
- Dilation Tests: Your optometrist may dilate your pupils with eye drops to get a better view of your retinas, your optic nerves and other internal eye structures. In some cases, Optomap® dilation-free retinal imaging allows your doctor to conduct a comprehensive retinal exam without dilating your eyes.
- Contact Lens Exams: If you wear or would like to wear contacts, you’ll need a contact lens exam and fitting in addition to a comprehensive eye exam. A contact lens exam includes special tests to measure your pupils and irises, map your corneas and evaluate your tear films. Contact lens wearers need to have their eyes checked regularly for any damage or changes the contact lens use may have caused.

