Say Goodbye to Blurry Vision: Discover the Benefits of a Refraction!

1 or 2? 1 or 2? Do you have blurry vision? Do you have difficulty seeing clearly at night? If so, you may need to have your eye doctor check your eyes with a refraction. A refraction is a procedure to determine your exact eyeglass or contact lens prescription. We’ll walk you through what a refraction is, the benefits of getting one, what happens during a refraction, how to prepare for a refraction, common questions about refractions, and refraction test results.

Women gets Refraction Eye Exam in the doctor's office
Machine used for Refraction Eye Exams

What is a Refraction?

A refraction is a procedure used to determine your exact eyeglass or contact lens prescription. During a refraction, your doctor will use a phoropter to measure how light is refracted in your eye and determine your prescription. The results of the refraction are used to prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses that will correct your vision.

A refraction is an essential part of your regular eye exam. It will help your doctor identify any vision problems causing your blurry vision.

What Happens During a Refraction?

During refraction, your doctor will use a phoropter to measure how light is refracted in your eye. The phoropter is a device that contains lenses of different strengths and powers. Your doctor will use the phoropter to measure the way light is refracted in your eye and determine your exact glasses or contact lens prescription.

During the exam, your doctor will use other devices to measure your vision. These devices include a retinoscope, which is used to measure the way light is reflected off of the back of your eye, and a keratometer, which is used to measure the light that is reflected off of the front of your eye.

Female Doctor directs a patient while preforming a refraction exam

How to Prepare for a Refraction

Before your refraction eye exam, it’s important to take some steps to prepare. First, make sure that you have all of your glasses and contact lenses with you. This will help your doctor get the most accurate measurements of your vision.

Second, it’s important to make sure that you have a list of any questions or concerns that you may have about your vision. This will help your doctor diagnose any vision problems that you may have.
Third, it’s essential to make sure you have a list of any medications you are taking. This will help your doctor determine if any of your medications are causing any vision problems.

Third, it’s essential to make sure you have a list of any medications you are taking. This will help your doctor determine if any of your medications are causing any vision problems.

Finally, it’s important to ensure you get plenty of rest before your refraction eye exam. This will help your doctor get the most accurate measurements of your vision.

Common Questions About Refractions

When it comes to refractions, patients have many questions. Here are some of the most common questions about refractions.

  • How often should I get a refraction?

    It is recommended that you get a refraction every year. However, if you are noticing any vision changes, you may need a refraction more often.

  • What if both lens options the doctor shows me look the same?

    If the lens options the doctor shows you look the same, just let the doctor know. Sometimes the lenses will help improve your vision but sometimes they will not bring improvement.

  • What if I said the wrong option during my refraction, will my glasses be wrong?

    If you feel like you said the wrong option during the refraction test, that is ok. Your eye doctor has been trained and usually double checks for any possible mistakes. This is to make sure you are absolutely happy with your final glasses or contact prescription.

Person makes a list of their medical history
Young boy gets his yearly refraction eye exam
Young girl looks at her options for glasses

Refraction Test Results

After your refraction, your doctor will provide you with your test result. The test result will provide you with your exact eyeglass and contact lens prescription.

Your refraction test result will also provide information about any vision problems your doctor detected during the refraction.

What to Expect

When it comes to refraction of the eye, it’s essential to understand what to expect. The refraction is a painless and non-invasive procedure. It’s important to remember that refraction of the eye is not a cure-all for vision problems.

Conclusion

Refractions are an important part of your regular eye exam. A refraction can help you find the right eyeglass prescription for your vision and detect any vision problems that could be causing your blurry vision. It’s essential to make sure that you get your eyes checked and get a refraction if you have blurry vision.

The eye doctors at House of Optical are knowledgeable in diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide range of ocular diseases and refractive errors in patients of all ages. If you have any questions or concerns about your vision, don’t hesitate to contact us today!