Eye Exams
Regular eyesight tests do more than establish your prescription for glasses or contact lenses. Your eyes are an indicator of your overall health, so an optometrist is often the first person to identify chronic conditions such as glaucoma, diabetes and high blood pressure, often before you know they exist. In addition to ongoing professional training, Anjana Taank has 13 years’ experience working as Specialist Optometrist for Addenbrooke’s Hospital’s glaucoma clinic in Cambridge. Her continuous exposure to cutting edge techniques and procedures have fed into the Taank approach to ensure you receive the best possible eyecare.
Eye health starts with you, which is why we begin your exam with a review of your current prescription, any changes you may have noticed, your lifestyle, etc. Little things make a huge difference. During your comprehensive exam we use a carefully selected range of trusted and state of the art equipment to gauge your most accurate prescription. At the end, you’ll have the chance to discuss your glasses options with your optometrist, taking any specific requirements into consideration to ensure optimum results.
What To Expect During Your Eye Exam
At Taank, there’s no such thing as a cookie-cutter eye exam. Each one is tailor-made to fit your needs. That said, we always include an overall eye health check that looks for signs of underlying health conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Checking for early signs of underlying health conditions is vital in:
- Catching eye diseases early so they’re easier to treat.
- Keeping your vision clear and comfortable.
- Identifying broader underlying health conditions that show up in the eyes first.
- Giving you access to the latest information about eye health and vision.
- Introducing you to products and services that will help you navigate conditions.
Your eye exam consists of five parts, which we expand upon below:
- History and symptoms
- Eye examination
- Eye health check
- Additional checks
- Further advice
We recommend having a sight test every two years–or more frequently if needed.
Your Eye Sight Test Explained
History
Your eye sight test starts with key questions about your vision, lifestyle, overall health, and any history of eye health problems, including those of close relatives. You’ll need to provide information about prescribed medications, bring your existing glasses with you–if you wear them–or a previous glasses prescription.
Eye Exam
Your optometrist uses state-of-the-art technology and the charts of letters and symbols we’re all familiar with to review how well you see close by and further away. They’ll also use a variety of different lenses to skillfully assess whether you need glasses or a new prescription. We’ll ask you a series of simple questions with no right or wrong answers. Just respond as accurately as possible. Your optometrist will also test your eye muscles to ensure everything is working as it should.
Eye Health Check
Having examined both the inside and outside of your eyes, your optometrist will tell you if they detect signs of disease or injury. Sometimes drops are needed to give them a clearer view of the back of your eye.
Additional Checks
Sometimes your optometrist will check your peripheral vision to test for conditions relating to your eyes and the visual part of your brain. You may also have an eye pressure test, which helps detect glaucoma.
Further Advice
Your optometrist is here to help keep your eyes in great condition. Following your exam, you’ll have the chance to discuss your results and ask questions. They’ll tell you if they’ve found any problems with your eyes, whether you need glasses, and, if so, which type. If anything requires further investigation, we’ll refer you to the eye clinic at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge or another relevant specialist.
Examination fees
Private eye examination: £85
Contact lens consultation: £175
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
The latest in retinal examinations, an OCT test is a non-invasive hospital grade imaging technique. This state-of-the-art technology uses light waves to capture 3D images of the back of your eye. It means we can examine your optic nerve and different retinal layers in greater detail for an even more accurate diagnosis and early detection of eye conditions. Your OCT test is included as part of our private eye exam fee (there is an optional supplementary charge of £50 for this enhanced service for NHS patients).
Ask An Expert
If you’re looking to book an eye exam in Cambridge or have one scheduled but have questions you can make an appointment to speak with one of our optometrists or call us for more information.
Additional Services
We provide a range of advanced clinical examinations (including gonioscopy, a skilled technique not offered my many optometrists in the Cambridge area).
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Humphrey Visual Field Test
Using a hospital grade analyser, we test your field of vision to establish how well you see within that area, checking your peripheral (side) and central vision to give us information about the function of your eye.
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Gonioscopy
Gonioscopy checks the drainage system of the front of the eye. If the drainage is narrow and tight it can cause elevation of the intraocular pressure. Gonioscopy is useful in determining the cause of high intraocular pressure.
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Pachymetry
A pachymetry test is a quick and painless procedure that uses ultrasound or light to check the thickness of your cornea, using in diagnosing glaucoma, amongst other things.
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Goldmann Applanation Tonometry
The Goldmann Applanation Tonometry method is the gold standard for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP).
