Your eyesight is crucial to your daily life, yet it’s easy to take it for granted until something goes wrong. Eye exams are an essential part of maintaining healthy vision and detecting potential issues early on. But how often should you get your eyes checked? In this blog, we’ll discuss the importance of routine eye exams and share some helpful guidelines on how often you or your child should visit an eye doctor.
Why are regular eye exams important?
Regular eye exams are essential for maintaining good eye health. During an eye exam, an eye doctor can identify early signs of eye diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. These conditions often have no symptoms in their early stages, so regular eye exams are critical for early detection and treatment.
Additionally, eye exams can detect underlying health conditions that may not be related to your eyes. For example, during an eye exam, your eye doctor may identify signs of high blood pressure, diabetes, or even certain types of cancer. Early detection of these conditions can lead to earlier treatment and better health outcomes.
How often should you get your eyes checked?
The recommended frequency of eye exams will depend on your age, health, and risk factors. Here are some general guidelines:
- Children: Children should have their first pediatric eye exam at six months of age. After that, they should have additional exams at age three and once more before starting school. Once they reach school age, children should have an eye exam every two years unless they need glasses or contact lenses. If they need corrective lenses, they should see an eye doctor at least once a year or as recommended by their doctor.
- Adults: If you’re an adult without any underlying health issues or risks, then getting a comprehensive eye exam once every two years is usually enough.
- Adults with risk factors: If you have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of eye disease, or if you work in a job that is hard on your eyes (such as computer work), you should have a comprehensive eye exam once a year.
- Seniors: As we age, our risk of eye diseases increases. Adults over 65 should have a comprehensive eye exam once a year so the doctor can detect diseases early when treatment is most effective.
Don’t wait until something goes wrong—make eye exams a regular part of your healthcare routine. Contact us today to schedule an eye exam with our eye doctors in Gonzales, LA!
