How Often Should I Have an Eye Care Appointment?

One of the best things you can do for your eyes is have comprehensive eye exams. Keep reading to find out when you should schedule your next appointment.

Why Are Eye Care Appointments Important?

Comprehensive eye exams are an essential part of keeping your eyes healthy. During an exam, your doctor will review your medical history and assess how healthy your eyes are by evaluating your pupils, peripheral vision, eye movement, and other parts of your eye, including the retina and optic nerve. Your eye doctor will also determine the best prescription for you should you need glasses.

Since not all eye conditions have noticeable symptoms, early detection is critical. The sooner your eye doctor can diagnose and treat vision concerns, the better the outcome will be.

Comprehensive eye exams are a critical part of maintaining healthy vision.

When to Schedule Your Routine Eye Care Appointment

Eye care appointments should be scheduled when you need to update your prescription, whenever you notice a change in your vision, and at regular intervals to ensure eye health. How often to schedule comprehensive eye exams depends on your age and your eye doctor’s recommendations.

If you notice symptoms of eye infection, pain, or other changes to your vision, you should schedule an appointment right away. Those who wear contact lenses will need to see an eye doctor annually to verify or update their prescription.

Children’s Eye Exams

Children’s eyes change significantly from birth through the teenage years. Early vision screenings are generally performed by a pediatrician or primary care physician.

If any eye health or vision concerns are noticed, the child will be referred to an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. A good rule of thumb is for children to have their eyes examined by an eye doctor before they begin kindergarten to ensure they see well in school and uncover any conditions such as crossed or lazy eyes.

Your family’s eye doctor will let you know how often additional eye exams are needed and when to schedule the next appointment for your child.

Baseline Adult Eye Exams if Your Eyes are Healthy

If your eyes are healthy, and you have good vision, you should come in for a complete eye exam with your eye doctor a minimum of once in your twenties and twice in your thirties. Once you’re forty, it’s recommended that you come in for a comprehensive eye exam.

Your eye doctor may have you come in for a comprehensive eye exam before you’re forty if you have an existing eye condition or risk factors like diabetes, family history of eye diseases, or high blood pressure. With these conditions, it’s important to see your eye doctor on a regular basis.

For many patients, this may be once a year or more. If you’re 65 or older, make sure you see your eye doctor at least once a year for an eye exam. Your risk of developing eye conditions increases as you get older.

The eye doctor will let you know how often additional eye exams are needed and when to schedule the next appointment.