How often do we need eye exams?
Most dentists recommend a cleaning and dental exam twice a year, but how often should we have our eyes checked? Preventative eye care is crucial, meaning you should get your eyes examined regularly, not just when you need to update your prescription for glasses or contact lenses. The human eye is an incredibly complex organ with many potential problems that can arise. Regular eye exams are the best way to ensure that any issues are detected early – when they’re easiest to address.
What does a regular eye exam mean for me?
The ideal frequency of eye exams depends on your age and any risk factors you may have. Early childhood eye exams are essential for detecting, diagnosing and treating vision problems that can seriously interfere with learning. Unfortunately, many of these conditions go undiagnosed. For older children and adults, an eye exam every two years is generally sufficient until around age 60. However, we prefer to see our patients once a year. Some cases may require more frequent visits depending on individual needs.
Risk factors for eye diseases
The most significant risk factors include a family history of glaucoma, macular degeneration or other eye diseases – or even a family history of diabetes or high blood pressure. Some medications can cause dry eyes as a side effect, which is also a risk factor for eye problems. Monitoring these side effects is essential to prevent them from developing into more serious discomfort or even an eye infection. Another risk factor that can be controlled is smoking. Heavy smoking increases the risk of most vision problems, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Additionally, exposure to UV rays is a controllable risk factor. The damage caused by the sun accumulates over a lifetime, but it can be minimised by wearing sunglasses with UV-blocking lenses when outdoors or driving during the day.
Don’t wait if you notice symptoms
While it’s important to schedule regular eye exams if you experience any vision problems before your next appointment, don’t wait! Visit your optician immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
Sudden sensitivity to light: this could indicate an eye infection.
Difficulty driving at night or loss of night vision: this could be a sign of vision loss.
Blurred vision: a simple prescription update might correct this, but why wait to find out?
Frequent headaches: these are often related to eye problems, such as digital eye strain.
Bright flashes, loss of peripheral vision, or an increase in dark shapes “floating” in your vision.
If you can’t remember how long it’s been since your last appointment, contact us to schedule a visit. Your eyes will thank you!
João Albano – Advanced eye care, Orthoptics BSc(Hons), PGDip(Optometry), MBA
