An eye test (formally known as a sight test) is a straightforward, painless appointment that typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes. Knowing what to expect can help you feel at ease, especially if it has been a while since your last visit or if you are attending for the first time. Here is what happens at each stage.
When you arrive, you will be asked to fill in or confirm some basic details: your name, address, date of birth, GP details, any medications you take, your general health history, and your family history of eye conditions. This information helps your optometrist tailor the examination to your needs. If you currently wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them along — your optometrist will check your existing prescription as a starting point.
The clinical part of the examination begins with a series of tests. Your optometrist will measure your visual acuity (how clearly you can see) using a letter chart — you will be asked to read letters of decreasing size, first without and then with any correction. A refraction test determines your precise prescription: you look through a series of lenses in a trial frame or phoropter and tell the optometrist which options give the clearest view. You may also be asked to look at a point of light while the optometrist uses a retinoscope to objectively assess your prescription.
Your optometrist will then examine the health of your eyes. Using a slit lamp (a microscope with a bright light), they inspect the front of your eyes — the lids, lashes, cornea, iris, and lens. They will check the pressure inside your eyes (tonometry), which is an important screen for glaucoma. This is usually done with a non-contact puff of air or a gentle probe after numbing drops. Finally, the optometrist examines the back of your eye (the retina and optic nerve) using an ophthalmoscope or retinal camera, often in a dimmed room. Some practices offer an OCT scan as an optional add-on for a more detailed 3D view of the retina.
At the end of the appointment, your optometrist will discuss the results with you, explain any findings, and let you know whether you need glasses, a change to your prescription, or further investigation. If any referral is needed — for example, to a hospital eye clinic — they will arrange this directly. You will receive a copy of your prescription, and the receptionist or dispensing optician can help you choose frames and lenses if needed.