What eye examinations are available?

Regardless of whether it is a preliminary examination for laser eye surgery, a routine examination by a specialist or an examination to diagnose eye diseases: the range of different eye examinations is wide. We will introduce you to some types of eye examination and explain when the methods are used.

Chcesz are eye examinations necessary?

An eye examination may be necessary under various circumstances:

• Preliminary examinations for eye operations
• Suspected eye, corneal and retinal diseases
• If required for visual aids
• Eye tests for the driving school test

Many patients hardly feel any objawy in the early stages of eye diseases. In addition to the medical history, a thorough examination is essential for making a diagnosis. If it is a preliminary examination for an eye operation, the results of the examination will be used to determine which surgical method is suitable for you and how the equipment should be adjusted.

Types of eye examinations Exactly which examinations are carried out depends on the occasion. We have compiled the most common eye examinations for you.

Refrakcja – the eye test

Refraction is used when the patient complains of problems with visual acuity. Most people are familiar with the Refrakcja as an eye test. Refraction is used to measure the refractive power of the lens and determine refractive errors. These include, for example:

• Myopia
• Farsightedness
• Astygmatyzm
• Presbyopia

The refraction usually determines the obiektywive, as well as the subjective refrakcja:

1. Obiektywna refrakcja

The dioptre value of the defective vision can be determined automatically using the autorefractometer. A pattern is mapped onto the retina of the eye. If the pattern is perceived as blurred, the autorefractometer automatically adjusts the sharpness. This determines a correction value. However, corneal curvature or cloudy lenses can distort the result. For this reason, subiektywny refrakcja is often carried out afterwards.

2. Subiektywna refrakcja

An eye test chart (Snellen chart) is used for this. Numbers and letters are shown in different sizes. The patient indicates when his vision is blurred. A phoropter can also be used. This is a device with lenses that have different diopter values. The lenses are tried out one after the other and here too the patient reports how their vision changes.

Intraocular pressure measurement – tonometry

One eye is filled with aqueous humor, which creates the round shape of the eye. If the outflow of aqueous humor is disturbed, this can lead to increased intraocular pressure. Tonometry is an important diagnostic tool here. It is used for:

• Preliminary examinations before laser eye surgery
• Follow-up checks after laser eye surgery
• Suspected glaucoma (glaucoma)

During tonometry, a measuring device is pressed three millimeters onto the cornea. The intraocular pressure is determined by the force applied. Anesthetic eye drops are applied before the examination so that you may feel pressure, but no pain, during the examination.

There is also a non-contact tonometry (tonometry bezkontaktowe). The cornea is not touched. An air blast is generated in the direction of the cornea, which causes a brief deformation. The intraocular pressure is calculated on the basis of the deformation.

Slit lamp examination

The slit lamp examination is probably one of the most common eye examinations. This allows the internal and external structures of the eye to be examined using a binocular microscope and a light source. The examination provides the doctor with information about

• Anomalies in the tissue layers (conjunctiva, sclera, cornea, ocular fundus, lens)
• Inflammation of the eye
• Lens opacities

The patient simply has to place their chin in one position and focus their gaze on one point.
Depending on the results of the examination, further examinations may follow.

Corneal topography

Corneal topography is used to measure the surface of the cornea and view its texture.
All the patient has to do is fix their gaze on a point of light and the keratograph captures the cornea.
This provides the eye specialist with a detailed and colored image of the individual cornea on his screen.
The examination is important for:

• the early detection of pathological changes in the cornea.
• the fitting of customized contact lenses.
• Preliminary examinations in refractive surgery

The following can be detected: Astigmatism, corneal injuries, visual impairment caused by the cornea or keratoconus (severe corneal curvature).

Fluorescence angiography

Fluorescence angiography is an imaging procedure.
The patient is injected with a contrast agent, which makes the blood vessels more visible.
The images are recorded using an MRI or X-ray machine and then analyzed by a specialist.
With the help of this procedure, pathological and age-related changes in the blood vessels, circulatory disorders and vascular occlusions can be detected.

Pachymetry

Pachymetry can be used to measure the corneal thickness.
The measurement is carried out either by applying an ultrasound probe or contact-free with a laser (light-optical pachymetry).
Anesthetic eye drops are applied during ultrasound pachymetry.
The sound waves are emitted and reflected by different layers – this allows the corneal thickness to be determined.

In light-optical pachymetry, the thickness is also determined by emitting and reflecting light waves.
However, the latter procedure works without anesthetic eye drops, as it is a non-contact and therefore painless procedure.
The measurement is typically carried out in the following cases:

• Suspicion of glaucoma or keratoconus
• Diagnosis of increased intraocular pressure
• Pre- and post-operative examination after eye surgery

Eye biometry

Eye biometry involves measuring the eye.
This is done either using ultrasound or optical biometry.
Optical biometry is a non-contact procedure using a laser, which is particularly precise.
This allows the doctor to obtain the anatomical measurements of the eyeball, among other things:

• Refractive power.
• Radius of the corneal curvature.
• Corneal thickness.
• Axis length (length of the eyeball from the cornea to the retina).
• Anterior chamber depth (distance between cornea and lens).

Eye biometry is used before cataract surgery, refractive surgery and lens surgery.

Eye examinations – frequently asked questions & answers

Are eye examinations painful?

In most eye examinations, the eye is not touched, so no pain is to be expected (e.g. slit lamp examination, corneal topography). If an examination is carried out with contact to the eye, anesthetic eye drops are applied beforehand so that you experience the procedure as pain-free.

Do eye examinations have side effects?

If an examination is performed that involves touching the eye, e.g. pachymetry using ultrasound, side effects may occur. These include a foreign body sensation in the eye, irritation or increased production of tear fluid. The side effects are usually mild and short-lived.