How Often Do You Need an Eye Exam?
Getting your eyes checked once every year should help you stay in control of the health of your eyes. However, some people may need to have eye exams more than once a year. That is because vision changes with age. Thus, it is vital to stay well informed about your eye health always.
You want to ensure that your vision is always up to par and working right. Learn more about why eye exams are important and how often you need one.
What Is an Eye Exam?
An eye exam is an eye checkup that will help your optometrist examine how strong your eyesight is and look for issues that could be affecting your eye health. It involves taking several tests using different tools to examine various aspects of your eye health.
The tests may include eye chart reading, cover test, swinging flashlight exam, visual field assessment, color blindness assessment, refraction test, slit lamp test, and tonometry. This comprehensive eye exam will help determine whether any eye issues need attention.
How Often Should You Have Your Eyes Checked?
How often you should have your eyes examined depends on various factors, including your general risk for eye problems.
Here’s how often people should have eye exams.
Children three years and below - Children should have their first eye exam at six months old. This checks for healthy eye development and common childhood eye issues like the lazy eye, misaligned eyes, or cross-eyes. They should then get their second eye exam at three years of age unless otherwise advised by your child's pediatrician.
Five to six years old - Kids should receive their third eye exam before they start kindergarten.
After six years of age, children, adolescents and adults should schedule an eye exam every one to two years, unless they’ve received other recommendations from their eye doctor.
Why Is It Important to Have Your Eyes Checked So Frequently?
Your body is always changing as you age, and because of genetic conditions, age, lifestyle, and health issues, you could be more vulnerable to certain eye illnesses such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
Besides, your eye health can tell a lot about your general health. Illnesses that your eye doctor can discover during a comprehensive eye exam include:
High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Sexually transmitted illnesses.
Cancer.
Autoimmune illnesses.
What If You Do Not Get a Regular Eye Exam?
If you do not get your eyes checked as often as recommended by your eye doctor, there is a chance that your eye doctor will not be able to detect eye issues early on. Also, your prescriptions will likely expire if you wear eyeglasses or corrective lenses.
Even if you have 20/20 vision and your eyes do not seem to have any problems, ensure that you have them examined regularly to give them the care they need.
For more on eye exams and how often you need them, call TMS Eyecare at our offices in Wichita and Arkansas City, Kansas at (316) 669-4760, (316) 686-7212, or (620) 442-2577 to schedule an appointment.
