Reviewed for accuracy by Justin Bazan, OD on September 14, 2026.

A comprehensive eye exam is more useful when you understand what your doctor is finding and why it matters. You do not need to arrive with a long checklist, but a few focused questions can help you leave with a clearer understanding of your vision and eye health.

Here are six good questions to consider.

1. Has my prescription changed—and is that change meaningful?

A small prescription change does not always mean you need new glasses immediately. Ask whether the change is large enough to affect comfort, clarity, driving, reading, or other daily activities.

If your prescription has changed more quickly than expected, it is also reasonable to ask whether there may be an underlying explanation, such as changes in the cornea, lens, blood sugar, or other aspects of eye health.

2. Do my eyes look healthy?

An eye exam is not only a vision test. Your doctor also evaluates structures such as the cornea, lens, retina, optic nerve, and other parts of the eye.

A simple question—“Do my eyes look healthy?”—can open the door to a useful discussion about findings that may not cause symptoms yet.

3. What tests are you recommending, and what are they looking for?

Eye-care technology can provide valuable information, but patients should understand what a test is for.

Depending on your history and exam findings, testing may include retinal imaging, OCT, visual-field testing, corneal measurements, or other procedures. Ask what information the test adds and whether it is routine, optional, or clinically indicated in your situation.

At Park Slope Eye, we aim to explain testing in practical terms rather than treating technology as an unexplained add-on.

4. Do I need dilation, retinal imaging, or both?

Dilation and retinal imaging are not identical. Imaging can document broad areas of the retina and may reduce the need for dilation in some routine situations, but it does not universally replace a dilated examination.

Your doctor may recommend dilation based on symptoms, risk factors, medical history, or findings that require a better view of the inside of the eye. Ask what is appropriate for you and why.

5. Do I have any risk factors I should be watching?

Family history and general health can affect eye risk. Tell your eye doctor about conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune disease, prior eye injury, steroid use, or a family history of glaucoma, retinal disease, or other significant eye conditions.

If a risk factor applies to you, ask whether it changes how often you should be examined or whether additional testing is appropriate.

6. When should I come back?

There is no single follow-up interval that is right for every person. Age, prescription, contact-lens use, symptoms, medical conditions, family history, and eye-health findings can all affect the recommended schedule.

Before leaving, ask when your next routine exam should be—and whether there are symptoms that should bring you back sooner.

A few practical things to bring

For a first visit or when your history has changed, it can help to bring:

your current glasses and contact lenses
a list of medications
relevant medical and family history
prior eye records when they may affect ongoing care
specific questions about symptoms, vision changes, or visual tasks that are difficult

If you are coming to Park Slope Eye for a contact-lens fitting based on an outside comprehensive exam, we need a copy of the complete comprehensive eye-exam record, not only the glasses prescription. Otherwise, a comprehensive exam may also be needed.

You can learn more about what happens at a comprehensive eye exam or review practical visit information on our Insurance, Fees & FAQs page.

The best eye-exam questions are the ones that help you understand what your doctor found, what actually needs attention, and what can simply be monitored.

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