Eye Exams

Eye exams and eye tests can uncover common abnormalities of the visual system and related structures, as well as less common but extremely serious eye problems, such as ocular tumors. The eye exam by eye care specialists can also uncover evidence of many forms of systemic disease that affect the eyes, like hypertension and diabetes. With appropriate intervention, potentially blinding diseases and eye problems such as glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy often have a favorable outcome when spotted early on through regular eye exams.

Based on age, eye care specialists recommend the following for the best eye exam:

Infants
A pediatrician, family physician, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant or eye care specialist should screen a newborn’s eyes for eye problems and general health in the nursery.

By six months of age, infants’ eyes should be screened for eye problems by a health care professional or a trained screener at an eye exam center. An infant should receive a comprehensive eye exam whenever there are questions about his or her eye health. No infant is too young for an eye exam or eye tests.

Before Age 5
Since it is possible for your child to have serious eye problems without being aware of it, your child should have an eye exam at an eye care center at ages 3 and 5 by an eye care specialist, physician or trained screener for eye conditions such as:

• Strabismus (crossed eyes)
• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Ptosis (dropping of the upper lid)
• Refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism)

If there is a family history of eye problems, prescription glasses at a young age, or if your child appears to have any of the above conditions, talk to your eye care specialist right away about when and how often your child should receive an eye exam.

Ages 5 to 19
To ensure your child’s or teenager’s eyes remain healthy and without eye problems, he or she should have an eye exam at an eye care center every one to two years or during regular check-up appointments.

Ages 20 to 39
Most young people have healthy eyes without eye problems, but they still need to take care of their vision by wearing sunglasses, and protective eye wear when working in dangerous areas, playing sports, doing woodwork or yard work, working with chemicals or taking part in other activities that could result in an eye injury. We recommend having a complete eye exam from an eye care center at least once between the ages of 20 and 29, and at least once between the ages of 30 and 39. However, you can schedule eye exams on a more frequent basis in order to update your eyeglass frames, as well as meet with an eye care specialist about any eye problems you’ve encountered.

Whatever your age, though, see an eye care specialist right away if you experience any eye problems such as:

• Visual changes
• Flashes of light
• Seeing spots or ghost-like images
• A dark spot appears in your vision
• Lines and edges appear distorted or wavy
• Dry eyes with itching and burning

Ages 40 to 64
Even the adult and middle age groups can be affected by eye problems. Preventive measures like eye exams at an eye care center are integral to protecting eyes from injury and to detect eye diseases early.

Schedule a comprehensive eye exam with your eye care specialist every two to three years, and update your eye prescription and prescription glasses after each visit.

Ages 65 and Older
Seniors 65 and older should have comprehensive eye exams and eye tests at an eye care center every year to assess eye health and diagnose any eye problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.

If you are age 40 or older and have not had a recent eye disease screening, schedule an eye exam today. Sitting down to take an eye test with an eye care specialist is an essential step toward preserving your vision, keeping your eyes healthy and spotting any eye problems.