How Often Are Eye Exams Recommended?
Do you know how often you should see the eye doctor? The answer may depend on several factors, including your age and vision history.
Eye Exam Recommendations by Age
Following the recommended schedule for eye doctor visits is an easy way to protect your eye health and keep your vision sharp. Not sure if you need to schedule an appointment for yourself or a family member? Take a look at these recommendations:
- Infants. Infants should visit an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam between 6 to 12 months, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). Although low-risk babies only need one exam from birth to age 2, at-risk infants and toddlers may need more frequent check-ups.
- Ages 3 - 5. The AOA recommends one visit between the ages of 3 and 5 for low-risk and at-risk children. At-risk children may need to be seen more often, depending on risk factors and vision conditions.
- Age 6 - 17. Low-risk and at-risk children should visit the eye doctor once before entering first grade and annually through age 17.
- Adults 18 - 64. Comprehensive eye exams are recommended every two years for low-risk adults and every year for at-risk adults.
- Adults 65 and older. Older adults need annual visits, no matter their risk status.
Babies and children may be considered at-risk due to these issues:
- Prematurity
- Low Birth Weight
- Use of Oxygen at Birth
- Family History of Vision Conditions and Diseases, Including Nearsightedness, Congenital Cataracts, Genetic Diseases, Amblyopia and Strabismus
- Certain Diseases of the Mother During Pregnancy, Including Cytomegalovirus, Rubella, Toxoplasmosis, Herpes, Venereal Disease or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
- Difficult Labor
- Smoking, Alcohol or Drug Use During Pregnancy
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Strabismus and Other Vision Conditions
- Health Conditions That Could Cause Vision Problems
Adults may be considered at-risk for the following reasons:
- High Refractive Error (strong eyeglass prescription)
- Family History of Eye Disease
- Diabetes and Other Health Conditions That Increase the Risk of Eye Disease
- Medications That Can Cause Eye-Related Side Effects
- Eye Injuries or Surgery
- Wearing Contact Lenses
- Working in a Job at High-Risk of Eye Injury
- Vision Loss in One Eye
Why Following the Recommended Eye Exam Schedule Is So Important
Your eye doctor does much more than determine if you need contacts or eyeglasses (or an updated prescription) during eye exams. Optometrists also evaluate overall eye health and look for subtle signs that could mean you have a health or vision problem.
According to the AOA Eye-Q Survey 2020, 20% of Americans reported that an eye health professional diagnosed a general health issue during an eye exam. For example, narrowed blood vessels or tiny clots in vessels in the eyes could be signs of high blood pressure, while a swollen lens or leaking blood vessel might mean you have diabetes.
Your optometrist also looks for signs of common eye diseases and conditions, including cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. These conditions can happen slowly and may damage your vision without causing any symptoms at first.
Your visual acuity (sharpness of vision) will be tested to determine if you have a refractive error. Refractive errors include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, and presbyopia. Fortunately, prescription contact lenses and eyeglasses correct refractive errors and improve the clarity of your vision.
Every exam includes a glaucoma screening to measure the pressure inside your eye. If the pressure is too high, you may be at risk for developing glaucoma, a condition that damages the optic nerve and can cause permanent vision loss. Prescription eye drops, oral medication, laser therapy or surgery will reduce the pressure in your eye if you have glaucoma. Color and binocular vision, eye teaming, tracking, color and binocular vision and peripheral vision are also tested during a comprehensive eye exam.
Ready to make an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam? Contact our office to schedule your visit.
Sources:
American Optometric Association: Comprehensive Eye Exams
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/eye-exams
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Eye Exam and Vision Testing Basics, 2/14/2024
https://www.aao.org/salud-ocular/consejos/eye-exams-101
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Why Eye Exams Are Important
https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health/about-eye-disorders/why-eye-exams-are-important.html
Wolters Kluwer: Routine Eye Exams Lead to High Rate of Change in Vision Status or Care, 7/1/2016
JAMA Network: Association of Vision Impairment With Cognitive Decline Across Multiple Domains in Older Adults, July 16, 2021
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781965
American Optometric Association: See the Full Picture of Your Health with an Annual Comprehensive Eye Exam
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/full-picture-of-eye-health