Why are eye exams important?
Eye exams are important because they evaluate for poor vision, as well as eye diseases. Some eye diseases can be found and treated early, avoiding vision loss.
How often should someone get an eye exam?
Eyecare experts recommend that everyone have a complete eye exam every one to three years, depending on age, risk factors and physical condition.
Children without vision difficulties should have their eyes screened by six months of age, at age three and again prior to starting kindergarten. If there are no signs of vision problems, children should continue to have their eyes examined at least every two years. However, children with vision difficulties need regular eye exams to detect problems that may interfere with learning.
If someone wears glasses or contacts, how often should they return to their eye doctor?
Adults who wear glasses or contacts should have an annual eye exam. Even if you don’t normally need vision correction, you should have an eye exam every two to three years up to the age of 40. Doctors often recommend more frequent exams for adults with diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders, because many diseases affect the health of your eyes.
Why should adults have their eyes examined over the age of 40?
If you are over 40, it’s a good idea to have your eyes examined every one to two years to check for common age-related eye problems such as presbyopia, cataracts and macular degeneration.
Because the risk of eye disease continues to increase as you age, everyone over the age of 60 should have an annual eye exam. Ask your eyecare professional what interval is right for you.
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