Introduction

At Riverside Family Eye Care, we are often asked the same questions: What happens during an eye exam? Do I need to be dilated? When should I bring my child? What counts as an emergency? In this blog we’ll walk through the most frequently asked questions about eye exams, so you feel informed, confident, and ready for your visit.

What can patients expect during a standard eye exam?

When you visit for a standard eye exam, especially if you’re a new patient, we begin with a comprehensive eye exam. This includes:

• A refraction to determine your glasses prescription.
• If you’d like, we can also offer contact lens fitting the same day.
• For new patients, we recommend dilation and retinal imaging so we can fully assess the health of your eyes — retina, optic nerve, vitreous, etc.
• If any medical or specialty concerns arise, we may schedule accordingly, or treat those same day if possible.

This approach ensures that we don’t just check how well you see, but how healthy your eyes are.

Do patients have to be dilated during their exam?

Yes — for most new patients we dilate, because it allows us to look behind the eye and get a complete picture of health. But we explain clearly what to expect:

• The dilation drops are fairly mild, but you’ll experience some light sensitivity and your near vision may be a bit blurry for a few hours.
• Most patients are still legal to drive, but “legal” doesn’t always mean “comfortable.” So if you’re uneasy, bring a driver or plan for ride-home accordingly.

By dilating, we can reliably check structures that might otherwise be missed.

How do you decide whether dilation or retinal imaging is right for a patient?

While dilation is our standard for new patients, we also use retinal imaging (high-resolution photos of the retina) as a complement. The decision comes down to factors like:

• Your ocular health history (for example, any known disease, family history, etc).
• whether we need to monitor changes over time (imaging gives us a baseline).
• Whether you’re comfortable with dilation or have had prior issues.
  Ultimately our goal is to provide the safest, most informative exam tailored to you.

Do you see children, and what age do you recommend for their first eye exam?

Yes — good news: we are infant/child-friendly providers.

• We recommend the first exam between 6 and 12 months of age. (This is more detailed than the typical screening done at your pediatrician.)
• These early exams allow us to detect refractive errors, eye-alignment issues, developmental concerns — which are very important for lifelong vision.
• After infancy, for generally healthy kids, we recommend a comprehensive eye exam every 1-2 years, with annual being ideal.

Catching problems early makes a huge difference in a child’s visual development and overall eye health.

How is a diabetic eye exam different from a routine eye exam?

For our patients with diabetes, we offer what we call a diabetic eye exam. It includes everything we do in a routine exam (vision, refraction, dilation, health of the eye) plus:

• A deeper dive into your medical history and how your diabetes is being managed.
• A formal report to your primary care/diabetes doctor so that your eye health is part of your overall health plan.
• We strongly recommend retinal imaging because certain changes show up more clearly in images (micro-aneurysms, early diabetic retinopathy, retinal thickening, etc.).
  In short: the diabetic eye exam is more medically oriented, preventive, and coordinated with your broader health team.

What should patients know about symptoms like red eye, flashes, floaters, or sudden vision changes?

These symptoms are not to be ignored:

• Red eye, irritation, flashes of light, new floaters, sudden vision changes — all of these MAY warrant same-day appointments.
• Even if the schedule looks full, we reserve slots for urgent eye-related concerns because timing matters for some conditions (retinal detachment, acute glaucoma, etc.).
  Don’t assume it’s “just something minor” — when the eye is involved, prompt evaluation often saves vision.

Can patients come to you directly for an eye emergency, or should they go to urgent care first?

We strongly encourage coming directly to us (an eye-care professional) for eye-specific emergencies. While urgent care centres are helpful in many scenarios, they often lack the specialized tools (slit lamp, intra-ocular pressure measurement, fundoscopy/retinal view) to fully assess an eye condition.
In many cases, you may end up at urgent care only to be referred to an eye doctor anyway — so going directly can save time, cost, and risk.

Are there symptoms people tend to ignore that should actually prompt an eye exam?

Yes — and two big ones:

• Any change in vision, whether gradual or sudden. Many people assume “I just need new glasses” but it could reflect something more serious (e.g., cataract, glaucoma, retinal changes, systemic disease).
• Persistent dry eye symptoms.  Many people just live with discomfort, but treatable options exist and having them assessed can improve quality of life significantly.

Bottom line: don’t put off an exam because “it’s just been a bit blurry” or “my eyes are just dry” — these things can matter more than you think.

How do you help patients who feel nervous or overwhelmed about eye exams?

We understand — coming in for an exam can feel daunting. Here’s how we approach it at Riverside:

• We have a calm, welcoming, caring team who make you feel comfortable. Many patients tell us “it wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
• We talk you through what’s happening, and you are always in control. We’ll never do a test you’re not comfortable with.
• Our focus is on putting you at ease while delivering the correct care for your lifelong vision.
  So if you’re anxious, just tell us — we’re here for you.

Is there one thing you wish every patient knew before their eye exam?

Yes — this: Optometry is much more than just prescribing glasses. While we absolutely provide that, we are also the primary eye-care providers for many important conditions:

• We manage diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, infections.
• We coordinate with surgeons and specialists when needed and guide you through a trusted referral network.
  In short: you are getting expert medical care, not just a “vision test.”
  Understanding that helps patients recognise the value of the exam and take their eye-health seriously.

Conclusion

Whether you’re due for a routine exam, worried about a symptom, bringing in your child, or managing diabetes — know that the team at Riverside Family Eye Care is here to help. We hope this FAQ has answered the questions you had. If you have any other concerns or would like to book an appointment, feel free to contact us.

Book your next comprehensive eye exam today and give your vision the care it deserves.