Aug 28, 2025

Understanding Your Ophthalmology Visit

Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) recently sat down with Godfrey Wong, a Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist, to learn more about what patients can expect when visiting an ophthalmology clinic. As part of the care team, Godfrey works closely with ophthalmologists and is often one of the first people patients meet. He helps guide patients through diagnostic testing, provides support before and after surgery, and also answers questions through FBC’s Health Information Line.

In this interview, Godfrey explains what patients can expect during a typical visit to an ophthalmologist—from the tests performed to how to prepare to get the most out of an appointment.

Why do people usually see an ophthalmologist?

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye care and surgery. They diagnose and treat many eye diseases including inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Some ophthalmologists focus on one specialty like retina, glaucoma, cornea, or neuro-ophthalmology. Patients are referred to an ophthalmologist by a primary care doctor (including family doctors, optometrists or emergency room doctors) when they exhibit symptoms that may include flashing lights and floaters, blurry and distorted vision, sudden vision loss, or pain.

When a patient comes in for an ophthalmology appointment, what are the most common tests performed? What information do these tests give you about the patient’s vision?

When a patient visits an ophthalmologist, several tests may be done to check different aspects of their eye health. Each test provides important information about how the eyes are working and helps the doctor decide on the best care.

• Visual acuity: Measures how clearly you can see. Using an eye chart, patients read the smallest line of letters or symbols they can. This tells you what your visual acuity is. Both distance and near vision are tested, usually one eye at a time with glasses or with a tool called a phoropter that measures prescriptions.
• Tonometry: Checks the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure (IOP)). Eye pressure is controlled by a fluid called aqueous. There are different ways to measure pressure, including applanation, rebound, and the “air puff” test. Each person has their own ideal “target” pressure. If pressure is too high, it can damage the optic nerve causing loss of side vision or glaucoma. If it is too low, it may mean problems with fluid production or drainage.
• Perimetry (visual field test): Checks the full area a person can see while looking straight ahead. Each eye is tested separately. Patients press a button when they see a light inside the machine. The test looks for blind spots or areas of vision loss, which may be caused by IRDs, glaucoma, stroke, brain tumors, or certain medications.
• Photography: Pictures are taken to document the eye. They can be of the outside or inside of the eye, most often of the retina. Special filters or dyes can make details clearer. For example, fluorescein angiography uses a dye injected into a vein to show blood flow in the retina and detect problems in blood vessels.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): OCT takes detailed cross-section images of eye structures. On the retina, it shows areas that are thicker, thinner, or filled with fluid. It can also scan the optic nerve to check for thinning in glaucoma or swelling from tumors or brain pressure. OCT can also scan the front of the eye to look at fluid drainage areas, iris thickness, and corneal layers.
• Biometry: Measures the length and shape of the eye and is essential before cataract or refractive surgery. Ultrasound biometry can measure through dense cataracts, while optical biometry (using light) is more accurate. More exact measurements help ensure better results after surgery.
• Keratometry and corneal topography: Measures the shape and curve of the cornea (the clear front of the eye). These tests are used for planning cataract and refractive surgery, and to diagnose or monitor corneal conditions such as keratoconus.

How long does it take for results to be received by a patient after a visit?

Most tests results are available to the ophthalmologist the same day they are completed. Some specialty tests that your ophthalmologist may not have in their clinic (e.g. fluorescein angiography, ultrasound, and electrophysiology) will need to be referred to a hospital or a different clinic. In this case it may take a couple of days or weeks before these results are sent back to the ophthalmologist.

After getting testing done, what’s the next step for patients?

Once tests are completed, the ophthalmologist will have information to make a diagnosis, decide on treatment or determine next steps. For example, if the next step is surgery, the surgical coordinator will provide the patient with the details of how to proceed. Sometimes, eye diseases need to be co-managed with other medical specialties (e.g. neurology, rheumatology, and medical genetics) and will require additional testing. For instance, if an IRD is suspected, a patient may get a referral to a genetic counsellor and genetic testing.

How can people make sure all their concerns are addressed at the ophthalmologist’s office?
Doctors often have limited time for each appointment so it’s important for patients to be prepared. If it’s the first visit, it’s highly recommended to bring a list of current medications (i.e. prescriptions, supplements, and eye drops), and relevant medical and surgical history. Patients should also keep a record of any changes they’ve noticed in their eyes or vision, along with any questions they want to ask. You can write these down in a notebook or on your phone. This will act as a reminder during the meeting and is a place to document answers for future reference. A list of commonly asked questions can be found here.

Since dilation often causes light sensitivity and blurry vision, writing during the appointment may be difficult. Bringing a companion can be helpful, as this person can assist with recording important information, as well as remembering concerns and asking questions.

By knowing what to expect and preparing ahead of time, you can feel more confident and informed during your visits. Ultimately, being proactive helps ensure the best possible care for your vision.

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Have a question about your eye health? You can reach Godfrey and our Health Information Line at healthinfo@fightingblindness.ca or 1.888.626.2995