It is estimated that nearly 10 million American children annually do not get their eyes examined by a professional. Over 25% of children under the age of 17 have diagnosed vision problems. Combined with the documented obesity and lack of a balanced diet & nutrients among this same age group, it is easy to see the challenge and concern of doctors and parents alike.

Amazingly, many adults face similar circumstances, even though nearly four-fifths (4/5) of all sensory information that the brain receives comes from our eyes. So what is entailed in a typical eye examination and how often should you receive one?

1. The routine eye exam lasts 30 minutes to one-hour. Typically the exam begins with basic questions about your vision (complaints, duration or problems, etc.). Family and personal health/vision history will also be reviewed.
2. After reviewing your vision history, the doctor will likely administer a Visual Acuity Test and Color Vision Test. The purpose of these tests is to determine the strength of your vision and any color recognition issues, which is especially common in males.
   
   
   1. VAT is used to determine your vision distance with the normal vision basis being "20/20 vision". This means that a person standing 20-feet away can read what a normal person can read. However, if you have 20/40 vision, as an example, this means that you can read from 20-feet away what the average or "normal" person can read from 40-feet away. Therefore, corrective lenses are required to get your vision back to normal.
   2. CVT is a test that determines the ability to distinguish red from green accurately; which is the most common symptom of a problem, particularly in men.
   
   
3. Hypertension is a common problem that impacts your vision and health in general, thus your doctor will likely administer a blood-pressure test. Many Americans do not receive annual physician check-up, thus staying abreast of this easily treatable health issue is very important.
4. In order to test your nerve supply to your eyes, your doctor will likely administer a motility test, which requires you to remain still while allowing your eyes to follow the motion of a small light. Pupil response is also measured at this time with the light shined directly into your eye.
5. Finally a covered test will be introduced to determine your eye’s ability to focus or fixate on objects.

Optometrists recommend annual eye examinations, particularly since many eye disease or chronic problems can be offset or risk-reduced when caught early. Find a Doctor to schedule an eye examination with your local Optometrist today.