Diagnosis and Eye Health Assessments
Timely and accurate diagnosis and eye health assessments is key to preserving vision and slowing the progression of eye disease. An eye examination can detect problems before symptoms develop and prevent permanent damage.
When to see an eye specialist:
- Blurred or double vision
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Eye pain or sudden vision changes
- Floaters, flashes, or a shadow across your field of vision
- Diabetes, hypertension, or family history of eye conditions
Types of eye health assessments:
- Visual acuity test
- Measures clarity of vision using a standard eye chart (Snellen test).
- Helps determine if you need glasses or if vision loss is progressing.
- Refraction test
- Determines the correct lens prescription to correct vision errors.
- Slit-lamp examination
- Uses a microscope and light to inspect the cornea, lens, iris, and anterior chamber.
- Intraocular pressure test (tonometry)
- Screens for glaucoma by measuring pressure inside the eye.
- Dilated fundus exam
- Eye drops widen pupils to allow the doctor to examine the retina and optic nerve.
- Retinal imaging and OCT
- High-resolution scans show detailed views of the retina and macula, used for diagnosing conditions like AMD or diabetic retinopathy.
- Visual field test
- Detects blind spots or peripheral vision loss, often used in glaucoma assessments.
Specialised assessments in children:
- Infants and toddlers are assessed using visual tracking and pupil responses.
- School screening programmes aim to detect early problems before they interfere with learning.
South African context:
- Government clinics and mobile screening units offer free or subsidised eye tests, especially for the elderly.
- Optometrists and ophthalmologists in urban centres are more accessible, while rural areas may face delays in specialist referral.
- Vision screening in schools remains limited in some regions, leading to undetected childhood vision issues.
Diagnosis and Eye Health Assessments
Regular check-ups ensure treatable problems don’t become permanent disabilities.
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