Comprehensive Eye Examination

What is a Comprehensive Eye Examination?     

Comprehensive Eye Examination involves a systematic and detailed eye examination comprising of the following:

• History taking– including the ophthalmic history and history of medical ailments
• Vision recording and assessment of visual improvement with a pin hole
• Refraction
• Assessment of extra ocular movements and ocular balance – to rule out an ocular motility disorder
• Pupillary examination
• Anterior segment examination by slit lamp bio microscopy
• Intraocular pressure measurement by applanation tonometry
• Gonioscopy to assess status of the anterior chamber angle
• Fundus examination- binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy,  fundus slit lamp bio microscopy

Why is a Comprehensive Eye Examination important?

Several potentially blinding disorders, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, which are treatable in the early stages, and hence ought to be diagnosed at the earliest, would be missed, if this system of Comprehensive Eye Examination is not carried out in all patients. Besides, patients with shallow anterior chambers, and potentially occludable angles, if diagnosed early, could have yag laser iridotomy, which would prevent the development of angle closure and angle closure glaucoma at a future date.