During the consultation, after your initial vision check, a technician will perform various eye scans and measurements. Common ones include a corneal topography or tomography (where you stare at a pattern or in a device that maps the shape of your cornea – painless, just a bright target). You might have an OCT scan of your retina or macula, which is essentially an ultrasound-like scan with light that checks for any underlying retina issues (you simply look at a light, and it’s done in seconds).
Biometry measurements might be done with an optical device – you fixate on a small light or picture, it takes readings of your eye length and keratometry (cornea curvature). None of these tests involve contact with the eye. Dilation: You’ll get eye drops that make your pupil enlarge. These take about 20 minutes to kick in, and your near vision will get blurry, plus you’ll be sensitive to light. After you’re fully dilated, the doctor will examine the inside of your eye with a microscope and a bright light – this is to ensure your retina and optic nerve are healthy and to look for any reason that might affect surgery or lens choice. Expect your eyes to stay dilated and light-sensitive for the rest of the day, – bring sunglasses for the ride home.
In summary, you’ll go through a sequence of high-tech yet comfortable tests, and by the end, the team will have a detailed map of your eyes and their optical status.
