How Often Should You Get An Eye Exam?

Many people schedule eye exams out of necessity—when they notice their vision changing or when they run out of contact lenses and need to renew a prescription. One husband and wife that we heard about, who each had roughly the same vision, would take turns getting exams when their contact prescriptions expired, then buy enough lenses to supply them both until the next go-around.

Needless to say, that’s not ideal. And certainly not healthy.

General eye exams are important to maintain eye health and promote good vision. Persons of all ages should get a comprehensive eye exam at least every three years and for persons over 50, every two years, unless otherwise told by an eye care professional.

There are numerous reasons for this. Many eye conditions start slowly and go unnoticed. This can be true of vision changes that could later be corrected easily, but it also holds true for many more serious conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, blepharitis, diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases that, if not treated, could cause blindness. In many cases, the solution to eliminating or managing these conditions is early detection. A regular eye exam gives your doctor the ability to fix small problems before they become big ones.

There are plenty of other reasons to schedule a regular eye examination:

• It’s painless. None of the tests performed cause any significant degree of discomfort.
• It’s quick. An exam takes an hour or less.
• It can improve your overall health. If an exam uncovers a vision change or condition that can be corrected to help you see better, you might avoid headaches, fatigue, and other problems caused by less-than-ideal vision.
• It can improve your quality of life. Vision improved by correction can make it more fun to watch TV, travel, read, or to enjoy any number of activities.
• It can determine if you’re a candidate for LASIK. If you’ve ever thought about LASIK vision correction, ask your doctor during your next exam if you might be a good candidate. You can also use the form on our Laser Center website, “Am I A Candidate?” to get a response from our staff if you’re between regular exams.

To schedule your next eye exam, click here or call (865) 584-0905.