FOLLOW-UP CARE

Referred After a Health Check?

What “further testing needed” actually means, and what to bring.

Written & reviewed by

Dr. Atsushi MekadaBoard-certified Ophthalmologist, The Japanese Ophthalmological Society

Last updated:

Many people feel anxious when a health check result says "further testing needed" or "see a doctor." This doesn't mean a diagnosis has been made — it means "let's take a closer look to confirm." We perform testing suited to your health check results and explain your condition carefully.

1. What "further testing needed" means

A health check screens using a limited set of measurements. If there's any suspicion of an issue, even without symptoms, the result will say "further testing needed." A closer look often finds that simple monitoring is all that's needed. The important first step is having a more detailed exam at an ophthalmology clinic.

If left unchecked, conditions that progress without symptoms — such as glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy — could be missed. Please visit us as soon as possible after receiving your results.

2. Find your flagged item

  • Children flagged at a school vision screening or pre-enrollment checkOften this means glasses or contacts are needed due to myopia, but it can also indicate amblyopia or strabismus requiring treatment. See our Pediatric Ophthalmology, Glasses, and Contact Lens pages.
  • Flagged for an abnormality on a fundus examThis can suggest diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, or retinal vascular disease. See our Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, and Retinal Vascular Disease pages.
  • Flagged for high eye pressureThis can suggest glaucoma. See our Glaucoma page.
  • Flagged for reduced visionThis can be caused by cataracts, among other things. See our Cataracts and Glasses pages.

For children, please bring the referral slip (vision test result) distributed by the school, and have a parent or guardian accompany them.

3. Visiting us

  • What to bringPlease bring your health check result sheet in addition. For the basic items to bring, see What to Bring for Your First Visit.
  • AppointmentsNo appointment is needed. Patients are seen in order of arrival during consultation hours.
  • On the dayPlease show your health check result at reception. We perform a standard set of basic tests (vision, eye pressure, fundus, etc). We'll pay particular attention to the flagged items during your exam and discuss next steps.

Depending on the results, we may recommend additional detailed testing not included in a standard health check, such as visual field testing or OCT. We explain the purpose of each test clearly as we go.

A Note From the Director

Many eye diseases progress without symptoms. Having a health check flag prompts you to get tested, which supports early detection. If you have any concerns, please feel free to ask.

Related Pages

Please note: This page provides general medical information and is not intended for diagnosis or treatment. Health check results vary between individuals; please confirm details during your examination.