Eye Exam

• Jasmeet Dhaliwal, M.D. , our Ophthalmologists will perform your eye exam at our practice
• Benefits of seeing an Ophthalmologist versus an Optometrist include:
  • Specialize in medical and surgical eye care
  • Diagnosis and treatment of disease and visual complications
  • Prescribe and administer drugs
  • Perform complex, intricate, and delicate eye surgery
• Our comprehensive eye exams also include a prescription for new glasses , which can be conveniently filled at our on-site Optical Boutique

A complete eye examination, at our ophthalmology office, does more than determine how clearly you see, what eye problems you are experiencing, or which lens prescription will give you the best possible vision. Our opthamologists, Dr. Dhaliwal, along with the eyecare team at Chicagoland Eye Consultants, will perform a number of vision tests to check the health and function of your eyes, using state of the art equipment . The first portion of your exam starts with one of our technicians, who will thoroughly go over your medical history and your family’s medical history, along with documenting any visual problems you may be experiencing. If you are a contact lens wearer, we will also check to make sure your contacts are the correct prescription, fit and are the type of lenses best suited for your eyes.

Eye Testing

A complete eye examination will include one or several of the following tests:

Visual Acuity Test

This test measures how well you can see from a distance. Covering one eye at a time, you will look at an eye chart, through a Computerized Vision Testing System (COS) , and be asked to identify letters that get smaller as you read down the chart. An auto refractor is also used to help determine if there has been a change in your eyesight. This is essential when deciding if you need a new prescription for your eyeglasses. This measurement will be fine-tuned by our technician, who may perform a refraction to determine the best prescription for you.

QuantifEye Test- MPOD

1-3 minute test that measures your macular pigment. Testing only one eye, you will look through a non-invasive device, and press a button each time you see a flickering blue light. The QuantifEye will produce a quantified measurement of your MPOD (Macular Pigment Optical Density), which will help Dr. Dhaliwal assess your macular pigment density risk. Low macular pigment is one modifiable risk factor associated with macular degeneration and visual performance challenges, such as night driving, glare, and photosensitivity.

Muscle Light Test

Our technician will use a muscle light to test the function of your eye muscles. This will check to see if your pupils react appropriately to light. You will follow the movement of the light in various directions. Lastly, we will check your peripheral vision.

Visual Field Test

To check your peripheral vision, our eye doctor may order a visual field test. For this test, you will be seated in front of a bowl-shaped instrument, called a visual field machine . During the course of the test, you will have alternate eyes patched and be asked to look at a single target light straight ahead of you. You will be asked to push a small button each time you see a flash of light appearing from various directions within the bowl. The instrument will record your responses, to identify if there are any blind spots in your vision.

Slit Lamp Testing

During your eye exam, Dr. Dhaliwal will use a slit-lamp microscope to examine the front part of your eye, which includes your cornea, your iris and your lens. This diagnostic test gives a magnified view of your eye, and is vital in diagnosing many ocular conditions, such as dry eye and conjunctivitis.

Glaucoma Testing

To test for glaucoma , an eye disease of the optic nerve, our technician will use a tonometer to measure your intraocular pressure. First we will administer anesthetic eye drops to numb the front surface of your eye. Next, we will use a sterile tonopen to gently touch your cornea. This procedure is quick and painless. The anesthetic will wear off in approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Similar testing, called pachymetry, may be performed if necessary. Pachymetry measures the thickness of your cornea and helps evaluate the accuracy of your intraocular pressure. Our technicians will apply numbing eye drops and complete the eye testing, by using ultrasonic waves to measure your corneal thickness.

Retinal Exam

• Retinal exam- explores the back of your eye, which includes your vitreous, retina and other structures. To perform this exam, your pupils will be dilated with eye drops. The total time for a retinal exam is about five minutes. There may be several stages of the retinal exam, which Dr. Dhaliwal may choose to perform.
• Direct exam- uses a light called an ophthalmoscope, which is critical in determining the health of your retina.
• Indirect examination- requires a much brighter light, which Dr. Dhaliwal will use to examine the back of your eye, along with a magnifying lens. This allows him to see everything in great detail and in three dimensions.
• Slit lamp exam- used to get the best view at the back of your eye. This combines the use of the slit lamp and a special lens.

A word of caution about dilation:

Dilating eye drops will blur your eyesight for several hours. You may have difficulty driving or performing other activities and will be sensitive to bright light. These effects are temporary and should resolve in several hours. Please take this into account when you schedule your appointment with us, as you may need someone to accompany you or adjust any activities following your exam.

After your vision exam:

If Dr. Dhaliwal recommend prescription glasses during your exam, be sure to stop by our eyewear boutique where our optician can assist you in choosing eyeglass frames to fill your new prescription. Our optical center is constantly updated with new designs in eye glasses, the latest technology in contact lenses , as well as accessories. If Dr. Dhalwal determine that eye surgery is necessary, you will be taken to one of our surgical coordinators who will schedule your procedure, as well as go over any preoperative and post operative instructions.

To learn more about eye exams click here

For more information on General Eye Exam or Eye Surgery call Chicagoland Eye Consultants at (773) 775-9755 today!