Equipment

The following instruments are used by the doctor during different types of exams. This is to help explain what they are used for.

Autorefractor

The auto refractor is usually the first instrument used during a routine exam at the office. It gives the doctor a starting point for the beginning of the visual exam. It

Tonometer

The tonometer is usually the second instrument used during the routine exam. It gives the intraocular pressure which is used for a screening for glaucoma. It is usually used on all patients over the age of sixteen. It uses a puff of air to determine intraocular pressure. which some patients find very intimidating.

Refractor

The refractor is used during all visual examinations to determine the final power of your glasses. It is the instrument that is used when the doctor is asking which is better one or two.

Biomicroscope

The biomicroscope is used in most exams. It is used by the doctor to view the front of the eye [eye lids, cornea, conjunctiva, anterior chamber and iris] under high magnification. It is also used by the doctor with the use of a hand held lens and the dilated eye to look at the lens in the eye for cataracts the retina for any retinal disease, the vitreous for floaters and the optic nerve for glaucoma and other diseases. .

Topographical Instrument

The topographical instrument is used by the doctor on primarily on contact lens patients. It will give the doctor the curves of the cornea which is the front surface of the eye. It also will show any corneal distortion caused by contact lenses. It is used on all LASIK and other refractive surgery patients to show healing progress or any unusual type of change.

Automated Visual Fields The automated visual field unit is used by the doctor to determine if their is any visual fields changes. The field changes help in diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. It is used to help diagnosis and with the treatment of neurological disorders. This instrument is the most tedious of all tests. .