Preparing for Your Eye Exam

Before you go to your appointment, assemble your medical records. Your eye doctor will want information about:

. any past eye disorders, injuries, and operations

. past and present medical problems

. all medications you're taking, including contraceptives and other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs, and homeopathic products, as well as food supplements such as vitamins and minerals

. any family history of eye disease

. your occupation and hobbies (in order to determine the potential for injury and also to understand how you use your eyes-primarily for driving or computer work, for example)

. your primary-care doctor's name, address, and phone number

Be sure to take your eyeglasses or contact lenses to your appointment. Take sunglasses, too, because your doctor will probably use eye drops to dilate your pupils, and the enlarged pupils will make your eyes extremely sensitive to bright light for several hours. In fact, you might want to arrange for someone to drive you home.