What would be your instant reaction if you were asked to get an eye exam and a sight test done? You’d be all confused and puzzled, asking yourself, “Aren’t they the same?” Well, they might be similar after all they’re both related to the eye but in a true sense, they’re poles apart, right from who conducts the test to what equipment they use.
To prove our point, we’re going to talk about these eye tests in detail, so you’re able to distinguish between the two. So, the next time you’re asked to get these tests done, you know exactly what’s going to happen and are all prepared.
FYI this is going to be very interesting so keep your eyes hooked and keep reading.
What Is A Sight Test?
A sight test unlike a comprehensive eye exam is not performed by an eye doctor (an optometrist). In comparison to a detailed eye exam, a sight test has very limited scope. It can only be used to provide you with an eyeglass prescription and nothing beyond that. For example, a sight test won’t be able to identify eye pressure, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other eye diseases. Aside from that, there’s also instrument myopia that can greatly influence the test results. Instrument myopia is a form of myopia that occurs when a patient over focuses while looking into an optical instrument such as a microscope.
A complete sight test includes:
- Visual Acuity
- Astigmatism
- Light Sensitivity
- Near Vision 1
- Near Vision 2
- Color Vision
- Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
What Is An Eye Exam?
An eye exam is performed by an optometrist, also known as a doctor of optometry. Since an eye exam focuses on your overall eye health, it has no substitute. During an eye exam, an optometrist looks at the entire eye and visual system, including your prescription. So, whenever you drop in for an eye exam, think of it as a physical test for your eyes. Eye exams can identify eye diseases and disorders like glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachments and macular degeneration including other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and even brain tumors.
An eye exam includes:
- Eye pressure tests for glaucoma, cataract and macular degeneration.
- A complete case history of the patient including past and present vision and medical issues.
- Tests that check for how well the eye focuses at varying distances.
- Binocular vision testing to assess how well your eyes perform together.
- Ocular motility testing to determine how well your eyes can follow a moving object and or quickly move between two separate targets.
- Depth perception test to help doctors determine how well you see things in three dimensions (3D)
- Retinoscopy to help your doctor identify if you have a cataract or a significant distortion of the shape of your cornea also known as keratoconus.
- Slit lamp exam is an eye test that uses a binocular microscope to determine various underlying eye problems such as corneal ulcer, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts so on and so forth.
Differences Between Sight Test And Eye Exam
Sight Test
A vision test is not conducted by an eye doctor
Uses eye charts to test visual acuity
Tests a person’s ability to see the form and detail of objects
Does not diagnose any visual problems that are present
May be limited by what testing materials are used
A prescription check should be conducted once a year
Eye Exam
An eye exam is administered by an optometrist or ophthalmologist
Measures visual acuity
Tests eyes‘ response to light and movement
Can diagnose serious visual problems
Includes screening of family health, medication and vision history
A comprehensive eye exam should be conducted once every two years
In conclusion, sight tests and eye exams are two different aspects. But despite the fact that they both vary from each other, does not make either less important. Both, an eye exam and a sight test are equally important and should be undertaken twice or once a year respectively. Precaution is always better than cure! So do get your eyes checked regularly, take all the necessary precautions and keep your eyes healthy and happy.
