Refraction Eye Exam: What to Expect

What Is a Refraction Eye Exam?

A refraction eye exam, also known as a vision test, is part of a routine eye exam that determines what prescription you need for your eyeglasses or contact lenses.

A refraction eye exam involves looking at a set of letters through a device while your eye doctor switches the lens and asks which option looks clearer.

Refraction eye exams ensure you have the right prescription and type of corrective lenses so you can see clearly. They can also help detect health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which can show early signs in the eyes.

What Happens During a Refraction Eye Exam?

Refraction eye exams are typically comfortable and non-invasive, and most people find them straightforward. The entire process usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

It’s helpful to bring your current glasses or contact lenses and a list of any medications you’re taking, as the doctor will consider these factors when determining your results.

During a refraction eye exam, the optometrist measures how light bends as it passes through your eye. The exam typically includes several tests:

Retinoscopy: The optometrist will dim the lights and shine a light into your eyes while you look at a large target, like a letter on the wall. By looking at the reflection of light from your retina, they can tell whether you need glasses and your approximate prescription.
Visual acuity test: The doctor will ask you to read letters on an eye chart, starting with large symbols and moving to smaller ones. They’ll note which letters are blurry.
Refraction test: Now you’ll look through the phoropter, a device that contains multiple lenses. This is the part of the exam where you’ll hear the question: “Which is clearer: lens one or lens two?” This part determines your exact prescription.

Understanding Refraction Eye Exam Results

Once you understand what a refraction eye test is, you can better understand your results. A person who receives 20/20 vision results has perfect vision with no refractive errors. A 20/20 result means you can read letters that are one centimeter tall at a distance of 20 feet.

Anyone who doesn’t have 20/20 vision has some sort of refractive error. The refraction eye exam determines the strength of your prescription to get your vision to 20/20.

The results of a refraction eye exam can help diagnose the following conditions:

Nearsightedness or farsightedness: Myopia (nearsightedness) causes distant objects to appear blurry, and hyperopia (farsightedness) causes near objects to appear blurry.
Astigmatism: An imperfection in the shape of your eye lens that causes blurry vision.
Presbyopia: A condition related to aging that causes the lens of the eye to have trouble focusing.
Macular degeneration: Age-related vision loss.
Retinal vessel occlusion: A condition where the small blood vessels surrounding the retina are blocked.
Retinal detachment: A condition where the retina detaches from the rest of the eye.

Are Refraction Eye Exams Covered by Insurance?

Most vision insurance plans should cover the cost of a refraction eye test because it’s part of a routine eye exam. However, coverage can vary based on your specific plan and provider.

Some plans may only cover a portion of the exam or limit the number of covered exams per year, so check your policy.

If it isn’t covered or you don’t have vision insurance, you can expect to pay between $50 and $250 for the standard exam, which includes the tests mentioned above.

Who Needs Refraction Eye Exams?

Children should start getting refraction eye exams at age three and should have yearly exams once they start school.
Adults with no vision problems can schedule exams every two years.
Those with corrective lenses or eye health risks should have a yearly exam.
Seniors over 60 should also have yearly eye exams, or more frequently if they have health risks or a doctor recommends it.

Yearly eye exams are important for correcting refractive errors and detecting and treating any eye conditions before they become serious. They can ensure there are no changes in your vision or update an existing prescription if needed.

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