ASK THE (EYE) EXPERTS
Q: How often do I need to have an eye exam?
A: Eye health is essential to your overall health. Regular eye exams can prevent eye problems by recognizing them early and applying appropriate treatment. During your eye exam, your eye doctor will check your eyes’ pressure, refractive error and other indicators to diagnose common eye issues not otherwise detectable without a thorough exam.
Beyond eye-related issues, eye exams can expose a number of other health risks such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. In some cases, your eye doctor can even detect an underlying condition before your primary care physician. Diagnosing these symptoms early can allow you to take preventative steps that will ensure a healthy life. Consequently, periodic eye exams are very important, and depending on your age, more frequent exams may be required.
It is recommended that children should begin having eye exams at six months old, another at three years old and again before they enter school. From age five on, it is recommended that everyone have an eye exam every two years until age 40 unless refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism) or other conditions are present. People at any age who are correcting their vision with glasses or contacts or adults over 60 should see their eye doctor once a year. By viewing eye exams as an essential part of overall health, like a yearly checkup or teeth cleaning, you’ll be less likely to put off going to the eye doctor. Schedule your eye exam today!