Key Takeaways
- Eye exams generally run 30 to 60 minutes from check-in to checkout.
- First visits usually take longer than routine follow-up visits.
- Dilation drops need time to work, which can add time to your appointment.
- Contact lens fittings often include extra measurements, lens trials, and care training.
- Bring your current glasses, contacts, and a list of medications.
- Glasses are often ready to dispense in 7 to 10 business days.
If you are looking at your calendar, trying to figure out if an eye exam at Bella Vision fits between a work meeting and school pickup. It’s a fair question, and the answer helps you plan the rest of your day without rushing out of the exam chair.
Eye exams typically take 30 to 60 minutes, though your first visit or an appointment that includes dilation or a contact lens fitting can run longer. It really just depends on the individual and the complexity of the symptoms.
Typical Eye Exam Length
A standard comprehensive exam with an eye doctor in Spartanburg usually takes about half an hour to an hour. That window covers your paperwork, testing, and time with your optometrist to talk through the results.
Routine follow-up visits are often a bit shorter since we already have a baseline exam. First visits will take more time since we review health history, medications, and establish baseline vision and ocular health testing. We want to be able to answer your questions and concerns during your appointment.
What Affects the Time of Your Appointment
Depending on whether you wear glasses, contact lenses or both can change the length of your visit. Fitting contact lenses requires certain measurements of the curvature of the eye and assessment of ocular health prior to prescribing them. Glasses require accurate fitting of the frame and lenses for clear vision. You’ll also want to make sure you allow enough time to try on some fun new frames.
The patient’s age, symptoms (or chief complaint) and health history also play a part in the length of the examination. A patient who has complaints of daily headaches, double vision or a family history of eye disease may require additional time and testing. Here at Bella Vision, we provide comprehensive state-of-the-art imaging of the inside fundus of the eye, which allows your doctor to diagnose eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Dilation and Added Time
If your doctor uses dilating drops, then additional time will be needed to allow those drops to take affect. Dilation allows the doctor to more thoroughly examine the back of the eye. Not every visit includes dilation, so ask when you book if time is a concern.
Contact Lens Prescriptions
When your eye doctor prescribes contact lenses, additional measurements are taken in order to make sure the contact lens properly and safely fits on the surface of the eye. Every contact lens is not the same and cannot be shared. The diameter and curvature are specifically chosen by the doctor for your eye.
If you are new to wearing contact lenses, we will also teach you proper insertion and removal of those lenses, as well as proper handling to prevent eye infection and vision loss. With practice, you will become an experienced contact lens wearer. A follow-up visit after your initial fitting allows us to check your vision and make sure the lens is fitting properly prior to placing an order.
What Happens During Your Exam
A comprehensive eye exam begins by discussing your ocular history, symptoms and current glasses/contact lens correction. The foundation of an eye exam includes:
- Our team reviews your health history and asks about anything you’ve noticed, like eye strain at the computer or trouble reading road signs.
- Your eye doctor begins by evaluating eye muscles, depth perception, and pupil function and provides a refraction to prescribe glasses.
- Ocular health is assessed using lenses and imaging. The doctor also measures the pressure inside your eyes.
- The front and back of your eyes are evaluated for signs of ocular disease.
How to Prepare for Your Visit
To best serve you and provide an efficient experience, please fill out all paperwork prior to your appointment. This allows our team to prepare for your eye examination even before you step into our office.
Bring your current glasses and contact lenses, even if it’s the old pair of glasses that you only wear on the weekends. Your eye doctor can measure what you’re wearing now and compare it to what your eyes need today.
Come with a list of your medications and any family eye history you know about. Glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetes-related eye changes often run in families, and that information is important. Write down your questions ahead of time, since it’s easy to forget the thing you meant to ask once you’re in the chair.
Morning or Afternoon Appointments
Pick the time of day that fits your schedule with room to spare. If dilation is likely, an afternoon slot means you can head home instead of back to a bright screen while your eyes are still sensitive to light.
What to Expect After Your Eye Exam
If your eyes were dilated, expect blurry vision up close and sensitivity to light for a few hours. Bright sunlight can feel sharp on the drive home.
We advise you to arrange a ride if you are concerned about driving afterward. It’s also a good idea to bring your sunglasses, as your eyes will be blurry and light-sensitive.
New glasses are often ready in 7 to 10 business days, depending on the complexity of the prescription. Our optical team can give you a clearer timeline once your order is placed.
Book Your Next Eye Exam
An hour of your day helps give your eye doctor a full picture of your vision and eye health, and it gives you answers you can act on. Reach out to Bella Vision to schedule an exam for yourself or your whole family, and take a look at the frames and lenses while you’re there.
