In most optic-nerve exams, the optometrist or an assistant will direct you where to stand or sit.
If you routinely wear glasses or contact lenses, keep them on for the exam unless the doctor directs you to do otherwise. Visual acuity is a numerical value derived by as your distance from the chart over the number of the lowest line that you correctly read. For example, 20/20 (or 6/6, using meters) is perfect vision.
Following this reading, the doctor may ask you to attempt to read a higher or lower line on the chart. A line is considered to have been successfully read if you misread 2 or fewer letters.
Once you’ve finished the acuity exam with your second eye, you can ask the doctor what your acuity score was.
Testing your visual field involves making sure that your optic nerve correctly picks up and transmits visual data from your peripheral vision. It also determines if there are any lesions in your visual pathway.
If at any point you cannot see motion in your peripheral vision, let the doctor know. This may indicate a problem with your optic nerve.
The doctor will ask you to identify how many fingers they wiggled and which specific fingers they were.
You may experience minor discomfort from the bright pen light during this procedure. However, the light won’t harm your eye.
Once the visual reflex exam is complete, you can ask the doctor if your eyes dilated as expected.
Your doctor will also check your covered eye as they uncover it. If the covered eye does not move, no strabismus is present.
