Eye Exams

Routine eye exams keep your prescription up-to-date and play an important role in preventing vision loss. At BLINK, in Boston, Massachusetts, optometrist Dr. Stacy Coen, O.D. provides detailed comprehensive eye exams to check your visual clarity, eye health, and overall health. Call BLINK, or schedule your next eye exam online today. 

Why are eye exams important?

Eye exams are routine visits with your optometrist to check the health of your eyes. During an eye exam, your optometrist assesses your vision and can update your glasses or contact lens prescription. Regular eye exams are important for three main reasons:

Chronic disease detection.  An eye examination can detect signs of chronic illnesses you don’t realize you have, including diabetes and high blood pressure. If you visit Dr. Stacy Coen, at BLINK, assuming you have an eye problem, your symptoms might indicate a systemic disease that needs treatment. 

Assessing your vision.  During every eye exam, your optometrist evaluates your vision. Even if it seems clear, there may be a change since your last visit. Your optometrist updates your prescription accordingly. 

Preserving your vision.  Many eye conditions that eventually cause your vision to decline begin without symptoms. An eye exam can detect symptomless conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration before they progress to the point of vision loss. 

What should I expect during an eye exam?

Every eye exam includes a series of tests to assess your vision, eye health, and overall health. You can anticipate:

• A review of your medical history
• A Snellen chart test to assess your visual sharpness
• Refraction test to discover your prescription strength
• Checking your eyes individually using an occluder
• Color vision testing
• Measure the fluid pressure in your eyes
• Pupil dilation or imaging for a closer look inside your eyes
• A magnified view of your eyes with a slit lamp

Dr. Stacy Coen, at BLINK, recommends getting a routine eye exam every two years if vision even if vision is good with or without glasses and every one year if you are a contact lens wearer. You might need more frequent exams if you have certain health conditions like diabetes. 

How should I prepare for an upcoming eye exam?

To prepare for your exam, you should bring:

• A list of your current medications
• The contact information of your primary care provider
• Your vision insurance information
• Any current prescription eyewear you use
• A list of questions to ask

If you’re having your pupils dilated, bring a friend or family member along to the appointment who can drive you home afterward. Retinal imaging will be provided as a baseline evaluation, allowing eye health examination without dilation.

Call Dr. Stacy Coen, at BLINK, or schedule an eye exam online for yourself or a loved one today.