What’s the Difference Between a Vision Screening and Eye Exam?

The difference between a vision screening and an eye exam is similar to the difference between a basic checkup and a thorough evaluation. The expert eye doctors at Florida’s TRES VISION Group discuss what each entails and the importance of regular eye examinations.

Vision Screening   

It is likely you had regular vision screenings when you were in school. You also need vision screenings to receive your driver’s license.

Vision screenings are designed to identify possible vision issues. They are not always conducted by an eye doctor, but often by a nurse or even a volunteer.

A vision screening may identify myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). Screenings conducted in schools look for eye disorders often found in youngsters, such as amblyopia, or lazy eye.

When the screener finds some type of eye problem, the person with the problem is then referred to an eye doctor for further examination and treatment.

Most adults will not undergo regular vision screenings, nor do they always need to. They should, however, schedule regular eye exams.

Recommended Vision Screenings

Vision screenings may consist of the famous wall chart, where the letters on the top of the chart are largest and those on the bottom are the smallest. Each eye is tested separately, and the child puts their hand over the eye not used while reading off the wall chart. Through the use of special cards, children are also screened for color blindness.

Eye Exam  

In-depth eye exams are conducted by optometrists or ophthalmologists. In addition to vision testing, the doctor also looks for signs of serious eye conditions These may include cataracts and glaucoma. Regular eye exams uncover eye issues at their initial stages, so the prognosis for treatment is more favorable.

Eye Exam Schedule

The American Optometric Association recommends scheduling your baby’s first eye exam around six months of age. After that age, children should have their eyes and vision checked annually.

Those in their 20s and 30s should continue to have an eye exam at least every year.

Contact Us

Protecting your vision is a top priority, and regular eye examinations are key to maintaining vision health. To schedule an eye exam, contact the team members at TRES VISION Group. We have three convenient locations in Melbourne, Merritt Island and Suntree.