What can I expect from my eye examination with S Patel Opticians in Kilburn?
The utmost care!
Although they may feel a little daunting, eye examinations are essential to monitor eye health and promote your vision. Our comprehensive consultations at our clinic in Kilburn, London have been designed to put you at ease, with our friendly optometrists here to guide you through the process and address any issues you've been having.
To put you at ease before your appointment, here's what the process might look like: a thorough examination of the inside of the eye using an ophthalmoscope - a special torch - or a slit lamp and a handheld lens. This allows us to check everything's looking how it should and to identify any underlying medical conditions. We will then ask you to read letters on a chart from a distance, one of the more familiar parts of the eye examination. Through each stage of the check, S Patel Opticians will do our best to make you feel as calm and comfortable as possible, so there really is nothing to worry about! Contact our team today!
What will we cover?
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If you’ve had any symptoms, how long you have had them and whether any changes have happened suddenly or slowly over a period of time
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About your general health, including any medication you are taking
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Whether you suffer from headaches
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Whether you have any close relatives with a history of eye problems
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About your previous glasses or contact lenses
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About the kind of work you do and whether you play sports or have any hobbies
Tonometry explained
Although it may sound like a disconcerting word, this relates to the process of checking the eye's pressure. This is usually done in one of two ways, either by non-contact (where a puff of air is blown into your eye) or contact (where an anaesthetic is used, and a probe is placed on the front surface of the eye). This test is essential when it comes to checking for any presence of glaucoma and is normally done on all patients over the age of 40 years old. At the end of the examination, the results found will be discussed with you, and the optometrist will give you their recommendation and advice.
Testing your vision
Already use glasses or contact lenses? Remember to bring these to your examination. Your vision will be measured both with and without your aids, allowing the S Patel Opticians team to check for any problems with your eyesight. After checking your distance vision (driving and TV), your near vision (for reading and close work) and your immediate vision (for computer use) and carrying out various tests, we'll see how you feel with various lenses, to assess if any will help with the quality or clarity of your sight.
Eye movement and coordination
It's essential that your eyes work together in harmony. This test ensures that's the case, and that undue stress is not being placed on the eye muscles. Good muscle balance is particularly important if, like us and many of our other clients across Kilburn and London, you use computers or read a lot.
Visual fields test
Our eyes are made up of millions of nerve fibres which can get damaged due to varying conditions. Checking sensitivity allows us to monitor the different layers of the eye. This test is especially useful when it comes to diagnosing the reason behind headaches or other eye conditions, such as glaucoma, diabetes and retinal detachments.