Eye Test Vs Eye Exam: What's The Difference?

LEICESTER, U.K. - Oct. 26, 2014 - PRLog -- "A regular eye examination detects eye conditions such as long or short sightedness, whether your vision needs correcting with spectacles and whether your existing spectacle prescription has changed. Although the back of your eyes are looked at, less than half of your retina will be examined with normal test techniques even if this includes retinal photography", said Mohammed.

"Your eyes should be examined regularly every 2 years and more frequently for contact lens wearers, children, the elderly and those with some eye and other medical conditions as advised by your optometrist".

"An eye examination can be much more than a 'sight test' it should also be a health check that can pick up early signs in your eyes of eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataract and age related macular degeneration (AMD), as well as underlying general health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and even eye-related tumours".


Visual Answers are awarding-winning independent Optometrists based in Loughborough and offer three of the best eye-screening tests available today:

(i) The Optomap^® Ultra-Wide Retinal Eye Examination  This is a highly sophisticated screening technology which scans the majority of the retina in one easy step. Four times more of your retina is seen and examined than during a conventional High Street eye test.

An Optomap retinal scan provides a permanent record of your eye for future comparison, allowing Visual Answers optometrists to spot any changes that may occur between eye examinations over time. An Optomap retinal scan captures over 82% of the retina in a single capture & should not be confused with a standard digital camera (or fundus camera) images, (which take 15%* of the retina in a single capture), Optomap allows a much greater view of the retina in a single image and therfore detects 44% more eye pathology.

(ii) Zeiss 3D Ocular Coherence Tomography (3D OCT) is an advanced eye scan for people of all ages. It is similar to ultrasound but uses light rather than sound waves to show the different layers that make up the back of your eye. The state of the art 3D OCT takes a 3 dimensional cross sectional scan of the retina. It's rather like having an MRI scan of your eyes. This technology allows Visual Answers to detect at a very early stage a number of common conditions such as age related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetes, macula holes and vitreous detachments and optic nerve abnormalities. Importantly the scan can detect the earliest subtle changes to the retina - before they even effect your sight. Over time, and when done on a regular basis this creates an invaluable ongoing record of the health and condition of your eyes.

(iii) Ziess FDT scan (which checks your entire visual pathway from the back of your eyes to the brain) is particuallry useful in detcteting ealry glaucma chnages and other neurological defects.

The combined used of all 3 technologies during your eye test allows Visual Answers to detect and manage your ocular health with the latest technology and give you peace of mind that your most precious sense is healthy.

The equipment is an investment of over £100 000 and this technology is currently found only in a handful of independent optometrist practices throughout the UK and is not found in any of the big High street retail opticians chains such as Specsavers, Boots, Vision Express or in supermarkets that also have opticians such as Asda and Tesco

By detecting changes earlier, the appropriate advice can be given and action taken to safeguard the future health of your eyes and vision.

All these scans are non-invasive, painless, simple and quick.

To find out more about the Visual Answers award-winning independent Optometrists, call Visual Answers on Loughborough (01509) 414151 or go to their website www.VisualAnswers.co.uk or www.dyslexia-eye.co.uk