Everyone should get their eyes checked periodically, whether they wear glasses or have perfect vision. Eye exams allow your eye doctor to write you a prescription for glasses or contacts, but they also allow your doctor to diagnose eye diseases. Different people should see an eye doctor with varying frequency, depending on their specific needs. Here are some guidelines that can help you figure out when you should make an appointment for an eye exam:
1. Is your child younger than age three?
Infants and toddlers should get their first eye exam around the time of their first birthday. Some eye problems are best diagnosed at an early age so they can be corrected more easily. At this age, children aren't able to communicate whether or not they experience blurred vision. However, their eye doctor will still be able to check for crossed eyes or lazy eyes, which can be corrected with surgery.
2. Do you have a child in elementary school?
Elementary school-aged children typically don't have the frame of reference to tell if they're experiencing blurred vision caused by myopia. This can lead to problems in school. If your children can't see materials the teacher is using at the front of the classroom, they're more likely to fall behind academically. You should take your child to the eye doctor every year while they are in school. This will allow your eye doctor to diagnose low vision as soon as possible, so your child can get the vision correction they need.
3. Are you experiencing eye discomfort?
If you have perfect vision, you may not have to visit the eye doctor regularly. People in their twenties and thirties can get their eyes checked every five years without suffering ill effects, according to Mayo Clinic. However, if you experience any kind of discomfort in your eyes, you should make an eye exam to get them checked. Clinical dry eye or another health condition could be causing your symptoms.
4. Do you have vision problems?
If you wear glasses or contacts, you will need to see the eye doctor more regularly. Prescriptions for corrective lenses only last for a year or two at most. This is because many people experience changes to their vision over time. Your eye doctor must diagnose these changes so they can adjust your prescription accordingly. People who wear contacts should visit their eye doctor annually, but those who rely on glasses can schedule biannual eye exam appointments instead if they prefer.
For more information about eye exams, contact services like Cripe Stephens & Stickel.