How Often Should You Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

When it comes to regular eye exams, not all of us have the same needs. This is because different factors determine how often you need an eye exam—your age, your family history, and your lifestyle all come into play. 

Read on as a Camarillo, CA optometrist talks about why comprehensive eye exams are important and how often you should get one.

Taking Control of Your Health

Regular comprehensive eye exams are important for maintaining vision and eye health. Early detection of potential vision problems can help you take steps to prevent or delay the development of more advanced symptoms that require treatment.

You may not realize it, but regular eye care is a critical component of your overall health care plan. Having an annual comprehensive eye exam can help detect serious medical conditions affecting your vision before they cause permanent damage. This early detection can reduce the risk of developing serious vision loss or blindness in the future.

Guidelines for When to Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam

If you’re a young adult, your eyes may not show any signs of aging. However, as we get older, our vision can change and our eyes become more susceptible to certain diseases.

Here are some guidelines for how often you should get a comprehensive eye exam:

• If you have no history of eye problems, or if you are under the age of 40, every other year may be all that is recommended. However, if you have any family history of eye conditions like macular degeneration or glaucoma, it is important to see your optometrist every year—or even more often. 
• If you have diabetes or high blood pressure: every year.
• If you have a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration: every year. 

Children  

Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam by the time they are six months old. Under the age of three, a child’s eyesight is still developing, so a baby/toddler should have a comprehensive eye exam every year. Likewise, children aged six to eighteen should also have their eyes examined every year.

Adults 41 to 60 years  

Every other year or annually if at risk for eye disease.

Adults 61-64 years  

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that adults 65 years and older have an annual comprehensive dilated eye exam every year.

Adults 65+ years  

For adults 65 years and older, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends an annual comprehensive eye exam as a part of regular health care.

If you have more questions or wish to schedule an eye exam, please feel free to call our Camarillo, CA optometry office today!