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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffAn eye exam is one of the best ways to protect your vision because it can detect eye problems at their earliest stage — when they're most treatable. Regular eye exams give your eye care professional a chance to help you correct or adapt to vision changes and provide you with tips on caring for your eyes.
When to have an eye exam
Several factors may determine how frequently you need an eye exam, including your age, health and risk of developing eye problems. General guidelines include:
- Children 5 years and younger. For children under 3, your pediatrician will likely look for the most common eye problems — lazy eye, crossed eyes or turned-out eyes. Depending on your child's willingness to cooperate, his or his first more comprehensive eye exam should be done between the ages of 3 and 5.
- School-age children and adolescents. Have your child's vision checked before he or she enters first grade. If your child has no symptoms of vision problems and you don't have a family history of vision problems, have your child's vision rechecked every two years. If your child does have vision problems or a family history of vision problems, have your child's vision rechecked as advised by your eye doctor.
- Adults. In general, if you're healthy and have no symptoms of vision problems, you should have your vision checked once in your 20s and twice in your 30s. Between ages 40 and 65, have your vision checked every two to four years. After age 65, get your eyes checked every one to two years. If you wear glasses, have a family history of eye disease or have a chronic disease — such as diabetes — that puts you at greater risk of eye disease, you need to have your eyes checked more frequently. You might also need more frequent eye exams to check for retinal problems if you were born prematurely or to monitor your eyes for glaucoma if you're of African-American heritage.
- Healthy vision. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ08DZO3SC&sub_cat=2015. Accessed Sept. 17, 2008.
- Comprehensive eye and vision examination. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/eye-exams.xml. Accessed Sept. 17, 2008.
- Comprehensive Adult Eye and Vision Examination. St. Louis, Mo.: American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/documents/CPG-1.pdf. Accessed Sept. 17, 2008.
- Bakri SJ. Mayo Clinic Guide to Better Vision. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2007:13-20,122-125.
- Knoop KJ. Slit lamp examination. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 17, 2008.
- Screening for visual impairment in children younger than age 5 years. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/3rduspstf/visionscr/vischrs.htm. Accessed Sept. 22, 2008.
- Pediatric eye and vision examination. St. Louis, Mo.: American Optometric Association. http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=3548. Accessed Sept 22, 2008.
- Robertson DR (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 28, 2008.
