What is a Refraction Eye Exam?

Introduction

Refraction eye exams are a part of every optometry practice. The goal of such an exam is to determine your visual acuity, as well as the strength and type of glasses you need. However, there are many different types of refraction exams that can be performed by your doctor—so what exactly does one entail? Here's everything you need to know about getting a refraction eye exam:

What is a refraction eye exam?

A refraction eye exam is an eye test used to determine the prescription of your glasses. It is the most common type of eye exam, and you can get it at a doctor's office or optometrist's office.

The purpose of this test is to measure how well your eyes focus light on their retinas (the back part of your eyes), so that you can see objects clearly without blurriness or double vision. The way we measure this with each eye individually is by having you look through different lenses while sitting in front of a machine called an autorefractor--a fancy word for "automatic refractor."

What are some of the common tests I can expect during my refraction eye exam?

You can expect to be tested on your visual acuity and field of vision. A refraction eye exam also includes several other tests that determine how well you see at various distances, including:

• Eye chart. An eye chart is a series of letters or symbols that are progressively smaller in size and placed farther apart as they get higher on the page. Your optometrist will ask you to read each line from top to bottom until they think they've reached your "best corrected" vision (meaning he or she thinks this is how well you can see without glasses). If there are any lines above 20/40, then it's likely that you'll need corrective lenses such as glasses or contacts for some daily activities like driving or reading text-based documents like books and magazines.

How do I know if my prescription is appropriate?

If you can see clearly with the glasses, then your prescription is appropriate. If they're uncomfortable or the vision isn't clear, then it's not.

If you have headaches or blurred vision while wearing them, then it's also not appropriate.

How long does a refraction eye exam take?

The time it takes for a refraction eye exam depends on the individual. The doctor will give you a schedule, but typically the exam takes up to an hour and a half. If you need glasses, this process may take longer because they'll want to make sure that the glasses are working properly before prescribing them.

You can learn about the basics of a refraction eye exam, including what it is and what to expect.

A refraction eye exam is a test to measure the strength of your prescription.

During this exam, you'll be asked to read letters and numbers on an eye chart while the doctor observes how well you see them. This is called "refracting" because it helps determine if your eyes focus light properly on the retina--the back part of your eye that processes images. The doctor will then write down what he or she thinks are good prescriptions for each eye based on how well you see at various distances during this test, as well as other factors like pupil size and corneal curvature (how curved your eyeball is).

Conclusion

We hope that this article has helped you understand the basics of a refraction eye exam. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!