If you’re booking an eye examination, particularly if you’re trying to fit the appointment around work or other commitments, you may be wondering: how long does an eye test take?
A routine eye test will commonly take around 20 to 30 minutes, although the exact appointment time can vary. Your eye health, symptoms, prescription and whether additional assessments are recommended can all affect how long you spend with your optometrist.
Rather than rushing through a fixed set of checks, an eye examination should allow enough time to properly assess your vision, examine your eye health and discuss any concerns you may have.
In this guide, we’ll explain what can affect the length of an eye test, what happens during the appointment and why some examinations may take longer than others.
What Happens During an Eye Test?
An eye test involves much more than seeing how many letters you can read from an eye chart.
Your optometrist will usually begin by asking about your eyesight, eye health and any changes you’ve noticed since your previous appointment. They may also ask about your general health, medication, family history and how you use your vision during everyday activities.
The examination itself can involve several different assessments, including checking:
- How clearly you can see
- Whether you need glasses
- Whether your existing prescription has changed
- How well your eyes work together
- Different aspects of your eye health
- Whether there are any changes that need further investigation
The exact combination of tests will depend on your individual circumstances.
Why Can the Length of an Eye Test Vary?
Not every patient requires exactly the same examination.
Someone attending for a straightforward routine appointment may require different assessments from somebody experiencing new symptoms or someone whose eye health needs closer monitoring.
Factors that can affect how long an eye test takes include:
- Whether this is your first appointment with the optician
- Your age
- Your current glasses prescription
- Whether you’ve noticed changes to your vision
- Any eye symptoms you’re experiencing
- Your general health
- Your family eye-health history
- Whether additional diagnostic tests are recommended
- Whether your pupils need to be dilated
Your optometrist can adapt the examination according to what they learn about your vision and eye health.
What Happens at the Beginning of the Appointment?
Before examining your eyes, your optometrist will normally spend some time discussing your history and any concerns.
You might be asked about:
- Your current glasses or contact lenses
- Changes to your eyesight
- Headaches or eye strain
- Dry, itchy or watery eyes
- Blurred vision
- Flashes or floaters
- Your occupation and screen use
- Relevant medical conditions
- Medication you’re taking
- Eye conditions within your family
Don’t be tempted to leave out a symptom because you think it might make the appointment take longer. Providing accurate information helps your optometrist decide which assessments are appropriate.
If you’ve experienced a change since your previous examination, mention it at the beginning of the appointment.
How Long Does Checking Your Prescription Take?
Part of your eye examination may involve determining whether you need corrective lenses or whether your existing prescription has changed.
Your optometrist will assess how clearly you can see and may ask you to read letters of different sizes.
If a prescription needs to be determined, you’ll usually look through different lenses while the optometrist asks which option gives you clearer or more comfortable vision.
You may recognise questions such as:
“Is it clearer with lens one or lens two?”
There’s no need to worry about giving a “wrong” answer. If the two options look the same, simply say so.
How long this stage takes varies depending on your prescription and individual visual needs.
Does an Eye Test Check More Than Your Prescription?
Yes. This is an important reason why you shouldn’t judge the value or thoroughness of an eye examination purely by how quickly it is completed.
An optometrist doesn’t only determine whether you need glasses. They also assess the health of your eyes.
Depending on your needs, this can involve examining structures at the front and back of the eye and carrying out additional measurements.
Optometrists are trained to identify signs and abnormalities that may require monitoring or further investigation.
Regular examinations therefore remain important even if your vision appears unchanged.
Can Additional Tests Make an Eye Examination Longer?
Yes. Some appointments involve additional tests beyond the standard elements of an eye examination.
These may include assessments such as:
Eye Pressure Testing
Your optometrist may measure the pressure inside your eyes, known as intraocular pressure.
Eye pressure is one of several factors considered when assessing your eye health and risk of conditions such as glaucoma.
Visual Field Testing
A visual field test assesses how much you can see around you while looking straight ahead.
You may be asked to focus on a central point and respond when you notice lights appearing in different areas of your vision.
Retinal Photography
Digital retinal photography produces images of the retina at the back of your eye.
These images allow the optometrist to examine the retina and can provide a useful record for comparison at future appointments.
OCT Scanning
Optical coherence tomography, usually shortened to OCT, can produce detailed cross-sectional images of structures within the eye.
An OCT scan is non-invasive and can provide additional information about areas including the retina and optic nerve.
If additional investigations form part of your appointment, you should allow more time than you would for a basic routine sight test.
Will an OCT Scan Make My Eye Test Take Longer?
If an OCT scan is recommended or included as part of your examination, it will add some time to your appointment.
The scanning process itself is generally quick and doesn’t involve touching the eye. You’ll normally be asked to look into the machine and focus on a target while images are captured.
Your optometrist may then review the results alongside the other findings from your examination.
The additional time is worthwhile because OCT imaging can provide information that isn’t available from a standard photograph of the eye.
Does Having Your Pupils Dilated Take Longer?
Sometimes an optometrist may recommend using eye drops to dilate your pupils.
Dilating the pupils gives the optometrist a wider view of the inside of the eye. However, the drops need time to take effect, so this can make your overall visit longer.
Your vision may also be temporarily blurred afterwards, and your eyes may become more sensitive to bright light.
If dilation is required, your optometrist will explain what to expect and provide appropriate advice before you leave.
How Long Does a Children’s Eye Test Take?
The length of a children’s eye test can also vary.
Children don’t need to be able to read before their vision can be assessed. Optometrists can use pictures, symbols and other age-appropriate techniques to assess their eyesight.
Some children may need a little longer to become comfortable with the environment or complete particular assessments, while others may move through the examination relatively quickly.
The priority should be obtaining an accurate assessment rather than completing the appointment within a particular number of minutes.
Regular eye examinations are important during childhood because children may not always realise or communicate that they aren’t seeing as clearly as they should.
Does a Contact Lens Check Take Longer?
If you wear contact lenses, remember that a contact lens assessment and a routine eye examination aren’t necessarily the same appointment.
A contact lens check can involve assessing:
- How your lenses fit
- Your vision while wearing them
- The health of the surface of your eyes
- How comfortable your lenses are
- Your wearing routine
- Whether your existing lenses remain suitable
If you’re having both your regular eye examination and a contact lens assessment, check with the practice when booking so you know how much time to allow.
Is a Longer Eye Test Better?
Not necessarily.
The quality of an eye examination isn’t determined simply by the number of minutes you spend in the testing room.
Some people require additional assessments, while others may have relatively straightforward visual needs. What’s important is that your optometrist has sufficient time to complete the appropriate checks, listen to your concerns and explain their findings.
Likewise, an appointment shouldn’t feel rushed simply because your vision hasn’t noticeably changed.
Every examination should be based on your individual eye health and visual needs.
What Should I Bring to My Eye Test?
Being prepared can make your appointment easier.
Consider bringing:
- Your current glasses
- Reading or computer glasses you regularly use
- Details of your contact lenses, if applicable
- Information about medication you’re taking
- Details of relevant eye conditions in your family
If you’ve noticed any problems with your eyesight, it can also be useful to think about when they started and whether anything makes them better or worse.
How Often Should You Have an Eye Test?
For most people, having an eye test approximately every two years is recommended, although your optometrist may advise a different interval depending on your circumstances.
Some people need more frequent examinations because of their eye health, age, family history or other risk factors.
You also shouldn’t wait until your next scheduled appointment if you’ve noticed a significant change to your eyesight or you’re concerned about your eyes.
If you’d like to know more about examination frequency, read our guide to how often you should have an eye test.
Should I Book an Eye Test If My Vision Hasn’t Changed?
Yes. An eye examination isn’t only about finding out whether your glasses prescription has changed.
Some eye conditions can develop without causing obvious changes to your vision in their early stages. Routine appointments give your optometrist an opportunity to examine your eyes and identify changes that may need monitoring or further investigation.
It’s therefore worth keeping up with your recommended eye examinations even if you’re perfectly happy with your current glasses.
What Happens After the Eye Test?
At the end of your appointment, your optometrist will explain their findings.
They may discuss:
- Your current level of vision
- Any change to your prescription
- Your eye health
- Whether additional investigation is needed
- When they recommend seeing you again
If you need new glasses, you’ll receive your prescription and can discuss suitable frames and lenses.
If something requires further investigation, your optometrist will explain what happens next and whether a referral is appropriate.
So, How Long Does an Eye Test Take?
If you’re still wondering how long does an eye test take?, allowing around 20 to 30 minutes for a routine appointment is a useful general guide.
However, your visit may take longer if additional assessments, imaging or pupil dilation are required.
It’s worth checking with the practice when you book if you need to know exactly how much time to allow, particularly if you’re arranging your appointment during a working day.
More importantly, don’t rush your appointment. An eye test is your opportunity to have your eyesight assessed, your eye health examined and any concerns discussed with a qualified professional.
Book an Eye Test with Bill Opticians
At Bill Opticians, our experienced optometrists provide professional and personalised eye care across our independent practices in Devon.
We’ll take the time to understand your visual needs, assess your eyesight and eye health, and explain the results of your examination clearly.
Whether you’re due for a routine check or have noticed a change in your vision, our team is here to help.
Contact your nearest Bill Opticians practice to arrange your next eye examination.
