Eye exam

Adults and children of every age should have regular eye exams to screen for potential problems and ensure long-term eye health. Starting at age 40, regular eye exams should be done more frequently to screen for age-related issues like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Your medical history, family history and age will determine how frequently you need to see your eye doctor, and whether you need to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Eye specialists

When it’s time for an eye exam, do you know which type of eye specialist to see?

• Optometrists diagnose, treat, and manage eye health. Your optometrist will perform your eye exam, test your vision, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, identify eye diseases, and prescribe any needed medications.
• Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye care. In addition to diagnosing and treating various eye conditions during regular eye exams, an ophthalmologist can perform eye surgery and treat complex eye diseases.
• Opticians are trained technicians who specialize in contact lens and eyeglass fittings. After your eye exam, an optician will make sure your frames fit perfectly and your contact lenses are comfortable. Opticians work with optometrists and ophthalmologists, but they don’t test eyesight or write prescriptions.

For a standard eye exam, you can book an appointment with an optometrist. If needed, your optometrist may refer you to an ophthalmologist for further care. And if you need glasses or contact lenses, an optician in one of our Vision Centers can help with fittings, lenses and frames.

What to expect

What to expect at your eye exam

Whether you visit an eye care location in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Fond du Lac, or elsewhere in eastern Wisconsin, you can expect a thorough examination from a highly trained, compassionate optometrist or ophthalmologist.

A typical eye exam includes:

• Screening for eye diseases
• Evaluating your eye coordination, eye pressure, and eye muscle movement
• Reading letters on a screen to measure sharpness of vision at a distance
• Other eye tests as needed

Overall, your eye exam should only take about 30-45 minutes. If your optometrist notices any issues with your eye health, they may refer you to an ophthalmologist for further treatment.