It is perfectly normal to be sensitive or nervous when coming for an eye test, and thousands of people feel exactly that way. It makes sense that we would be nervous about a vulnerable area of our bodies being examined, but at David Paul Opticians we pride ourselves in making our most nervous patients feel at ease and reassured.
There are a number of reasons you might feel uneasy about coming for your eye test but don’t worry we will go through some here and hopefully put your mind at rest.
Finding out something is wrong
It might be quite simple that you’re nervous regarding what the results will show and what treatment for various conditions might be like. But at David Paul we know that this concern is common among our patients, so we’re always there for them with reassurance. Catching the issue early is the best way to ensure complete recovery. Sometimes you may have an issue that you’re not even aware could be helped by a trip to see us, so it’s worth giving us a call to find out if how can help.
You don’t like not being able to see
It’s understandable that when you’re having the eye test you might feel a bit exposed as you can’t see anything at this point (while you’re not wearing your glasses). David Paul opticians are the best in the business when it comes to assuring our patients that they’re in good hands and that we care about finding the best solutions for them.
Not understanding the exam or the optician
This is a common one that all healthcare providers face from time to time, but at David Paul we try to keep jargon to a minimum and to use language that our patients can understand. We will also make sure to read through your eye test results in a way that makes sense to you, so you don’t feel like decisions are being made without your full understanding.
You don’t want to fail the exam
You might worry about messing up on the eye test and not giving us the answers we need, but thankfully at David Paul we use the best technology out there and the scans we carry out can work even on those who can’t communicate with us.
With all of these anxieties, and others that may not be listed, our expert team of opticians at David Paul will work with you to ensure a safe and happy experience while you’re in our store. This is something that we pride ourselves on doing for our customers.
It can also be helpful to understand a bit more about being nervous at having an exam. Below is some helpful information that we think our patients might find useful.
What is ommetaphobia?
Ommetaphobia is the fear of eyes! Not necessarily in the sense that you see your eyes and are frightened, but more in the way that you’re likely to be extremely squeamish about people touching or otherwise interacting closely with your eyes. It’s not uncommon to feel this way, as our eyes are very important and protecting them is a very good trait to have.
How do I stay calm during an exam?
There are a number of ways that you can try to stay calm during an ocular exam, and we often advise our patients at David Paul give them a try if they’re feeling worried before the eye test. The best way to stay calm is to feel prepared – but how exactly do you feel prepared? By preparing! The morning before you head down to our store why not spend some time thinking about what you’ll need with you, and some questions you might want to ask. That way, when you arrive you don’t feel unprepared because mentally you’ve been thinking about your visit. Prepare by deciding what you would like to get out of it!
Breathing exercises and thinking about how many other people are in the same situation as you are also good techniques to ease your worries.
Is an eye test painful?
An eye test is non-invasive and so won’t cause you any pain whatsoever. Some people aren’t fans of the glaucoma air-puff, but the process itself won’t cause any physical discomfort. Our top of the range imaging technologies are able to scan your eyes without having to put you under any undue strain.
What happens during an eye exam?
What happens during your eye test will depend partly on what your needs are, but there are some things that you might already be more familiar with. You may be asked to carry out an exam that asks you to look at that familiar board of letters, or you may have some imaging scans taken. In either case, what happens at your eye test will ultimately be of great benefit to you and can help to improve or maintain your quality of life. The eye test is also completely at your discretion so if there is something making you uncomfortable, let our team know and they’ll do all they can to make you feel at ease. At the end of the examination you might also get a prescription that your optician will read through with you and help you navigate what it means.
Now that you know a bit more about how the opticians at David Paul will help you overcome and cope with your fear and nervousness about your eye test, why not give us a call and come and check out what we can do for you. Whether it’s a check-up for your visual health or advice about choosing designer glasses, we are there to help!