Key Takeaways
- Standard visits usually last between 30 and 60 minutes
- Contact lens fittings require a little extra time
- A dry eye assessment can help find relief for scratchy, gritty eyes
- If a dilated eye exam is recommended, you may need a driver to take you home
At Advanced Vision Wellness Center, we know that between work, kids, and all your other commitments, life is busy. It can be easy to put off getting an eye exam because you worry it will take up too much of your afternoon, but an appointment with our team can actually be faster than you may think.
A routine eye exam takes about 30 to 60 minutes from start to finish, depending on your needs. This short visit helps our team check your vision and detect early signs of health conditions. Plus, while you’re in our office, we can talk to you about dry eye relief options if you experience symptoms, or fit you for contact lenses.
The Average Time for Your Routine Eye Exam
The 30 to 60 Minute Window
A standard eye exam will rarely take more than 1 hour of your day. Our team starts by reviewing your health history to learn about your specific needs. Then, the eye doctor can perform a visual test to assess how clearly you see far away and up close. You may read letters on a chart to determine your prescription, if necessary.
Quick Health Checks
One of the tests you may be familiar with is a quick puff of air that measures the pressure inside your eyes. The eye doctor can also use special instruments to examine your eye structures up close. We do these tests to help our team get a clear picture of your total eye health.
Eye exams are important for getting a clear picture of not only your eyes, but also your whole-body health. Your eyes’ structures can sometimes show signs of health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which is why eye exams are such an important part of your health routine.
Extra Tests for Contact Lenses and Dry Eye
Contact Lens Fitting and Exam
If you want to be fitted for contact lenses, you should plan to spend an extra 15 to 30 minutes with us. Our eye care team can measure your eye shape and assess your individual needs to recommend a type of lens that is comfortable all day. You’ll also learn how to safely insert and remove your new lenses before you leave.
Relief for Dry Eye
It’s estimated that 16 million Americans are affected by dry eye, which is why we include a dry eye assessment during every eye exam. If your eyes feel gritty, scratchy, or irritated, we can provide real relief through dry eye therapy.
Our team can check your natural tear moisture levels and recommend various solutions for your individual situation. If you’ve been relying on eye drops, we’d love to help you find lasting relief. A thorough assessment helps our team provide tailored solutions so you can feel comfortable again.
How to Prepare for Your Visit
What We’ll Ask About
During your appointment, we’ll likely ask about your health history to better understand your potential risk factors. We may ask if anyone in your family has a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, or eye disease like glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration. To help your appointment go smoothly, it can be helpful to consider your answers beforehand.
We may ask whether you’ve noticed any recent vision changes, such as blurry vision or more frequent headaches during screen time. Sometimes we forget changes in the moment, and when we get home, we wish we had brought them up with our medical provider. Some patients find it helpful to write down anything they’ve been noticing ahead of their appointment to guide the exam.
Remember Your Current Eyewear and Medications
Pack your current glasses and contact lenses so our eye doctor can compare your previous prescription and fit. It’s also a good idea to have a simple list of your daily vitamins and medications ready for our team. This preparation helps the appointment move smoothly.
If You Need Pupil Dilation
How Eye Drops Affect Your Vision
During a dilated eye exam, special drops open your pupils wide so the optometrist can get a much more detailed look inside your eyes. Because your pupils are more open, some patients notice that things look a bit blurry, or that they are more sensitive to light for a few hours.
For this reason, some people find it helpful to ask a family member or friend to drive them home. If you need a dilated eye exam, we often recommend bringing quality sunglasses to protect your sensitive eyes from the daylight.
When to See an Eye Doctor in Medford
When Your Eyes Feel Uncomfortable
If you’re experiencing discomfort, we want you to know that you don’t have to manage it alone. We have in-office and at-home therapies that can help with a variety of concerns. Schedule a visit with our team if you notice:
- A scratchy, gritty feeling in the eyes, as if there’s a piece of sand stuck there
- Your child squinting to see or rubbing their eyes frequently
- Excessively watery eyes, which can be your body’s response to irritation
- Tired, uncomfortable eyes when on digital screens
Some of these symptoms can point to dry eye, while others can indicate childhood nearsightedness or digital eye strain. Whether you need an eye exam or someone you love is experiencing discomfort, we have services for the whole family.
Schedule Your Visit
At Advanced Vision Wellness Center, we know life is busy. But making some time for yourself or a loved one to visit an eye doctor is an important part of your health routine. Whether you’re looking for contacts or your child’s prescription keeps getting stronger, a visit to an optometrist in Medford can help support your eyes for years to come. Book your eye exam today.
