If you’ve never had an eye exam, you might be curious about the various tests that will occur during your appointment. You probably expect a visual acuity test, during which you’ll need to read letters off a chart. This will help your eye doctor write a prescription for glasses or contacts. In addition, you might anticipate the doctor examining your eyes closely to assess their health, looking for signs of cataracts and glaucoma. But some other exams are less well known by name. For example, what is keratometry? Should you expect to undergo a keratometry test during your annual eye exam? Scroll down to find out.
Keratometry 101
So, what is keratometry? It’s a common diagnostic procedure used to measure the curvature of the cornea, which is the transparent outermost layer of the eye. This measurement is helpful in a variety of ways, including all the following:
- It allows your eye doctor to determine the corneal refractive power.
- It allows your eye doctor to assess the extent and axis of astigmatism.
- It can help your eye doctor determine the proper fit for contact lenses.
- It’s crucial for calculating the intraocular lens power for cataract surgery.
- It helps calculate the power of intraocular lens implants (IOLs).
- It can help assess whether a person is a good candidate for LASIK.
- It can help your eye doctor write an accurate prescription.
- It can identify irregularities in the shape of the cornea, which may indicate a disease like keratoconus.
Keratometry is an objective assessment that provides a dynamic view of the corneal surface, and it can be conducted by optometrists and ophthalmologists. In many cases, it provides valuable data and insights that inform treatment decisions.
The Procedure
A keratometry test is a quick, simple, painless, and risk-free procedure that takes about five to ten minutes to complete.
It doesn’t typically require special preparation. However, if you suffer from dry eye disease, you may be asked to undergo treatment before the test can be performed. In addition, if you wear contact lenses, you may be asked to stop wearing them for one to three weeks prior to the test.
During the procedure, you will be asked to rest your chin on a chinrest and remain still. Your eye doctor will use a keratometer (also known as an ophthalmometer) to shine rings of light onto the cornea. By analyzing the reflection of these rings, the eye doctor can determine the curvature of the cornea. This can be done manually or using an automated machine. These days, computerized keratometry is more common.
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What is keratometry? It’s a measurement of the corneal curvature, which can be used to write a prescription, assess the extent and axis of astigmatism, calculate the intraocular lens power for cataract surgery, and much more. Your eye doctor may include it in your annual eye exam for a number of different reasons.
Speaking of which, if your eyes are due for a check-up, contact Heffington’s today. Since 1975, the Heffington family has been assisting the Springfield community with top-quality eye care and affordable eyeglasses and contacts. One of the unique features of our family-owned business is that we manufacture lenses at our own laboratory, giving us total control over the service and pricing, and we’re happy to pass our savings on to you. To learn more about our products and services, please get in touch with us online, send an e-mail to [email protected], or give us a call at 417-869-3937 (Optiland location) or 417-882-3937 (House of Vision location). We look forward to hearing from you!