Taking care of your eyes is important for your overall health, and sometimes people forget about it. Some people might think they don’t need an eye checkup unless their vision gets worse. But if you’re between 18 and 65 years old, it’s a good idea to have an eye exam every year, even if your vision seems fine.
These checkups are important because they can help find other health issues too. If something’s up with your eyes or your vision changes a lot, talk to your eye doctor right away. That can help stop any potential long-term damage.
- For Children
it’s a good idea for them to have their first eye checkup when they’re about six months old. Most babies can handle this test at that age. But if eye problems run in your family, your child might need a checkup earlier.
After the first checkup, it’s good to keep checking your child’s eyes every one to two years until they turn 18. If you notice any issues with your vision before the next appointment, like trouble reading or squinting, make sure to get in touch with an Eye doctor
- For Adults
As we get older, our eyesight naturally starts to change. That’s why it’s super important for adults to regularly check their eyes. How often you need to do it depends on things like your age, health, and family history.
If you’re younger than 40 and your eyes have been okay, it’s good to get them checked every two years. But if you’re over 40 or have eye problems in your family, you should do it every one to two years. And if you have diabetes or another health issue that can affect your eyes, yearly checkups are a good idea. Even if none of these apply to you, it’s always smart to see an eye doctor if you notice any changes in how you see. Keep those peepers in good shape!
Why is an annual eye exam important?
Getting your eyes checked every year is important for more than just making sure you can see well. Regular eye exams don’t just catch potential eye problems early; they can also give you a heads-up about your overall health.
When you’re over 40, you might start noticing more changes in how you see and the health of your eyes. Sometimes it’s just a normal part of getting older, but other times it could be a sign of something else going on. Seeing your eye doctor regularly helps catch any issues, whether they’re because of aging or something else. Keep those checkups on your radar!
What is the purpose of an eye exam?
We need to know why eye exams are important before figuring out when to get them. Some folks believe they only need an eye check if they wear glasses or have eye issues like dryness or blurriness. But here’s the real deal: eye exams are crucial at every age. They do important things, like
Correct Vision Problems
An eye exam checks how well you see at different distances and looks for things like nearsightedness or farsightedness, which happen when your eyes don’t focus light properly. Most people associate eye exams with figuring out if they need glasses.
As time goes by, your vision can naturally change. If you already wear glasses, your next eye exam might show that you need a new prescription.
But even if you’ve never worn glasses and think your vision is good, a surprise might be waiting for you at your next eye checkup. Your brain is pretty clever at adapting to slow changes in vision, so it might make you believe everything is fine, even when it’s not. Keep those eye exams on your to-do list!
Discover Other Health Conditions
During a thorough eye exam, your eye doctor might find health problems not just related to your eyes but your whole body! That’s because they can see your blood vessels and nerve tissue, which is pretty amazing.
Eye exams can uncover things like
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- High cholesterol
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Brain tumors
- Lupus
- Thyroid issues
- Parkinson’s disease
When should you start getting eye tests?
It is also a good idea to have your child's eyes tested before they start school
At what age is your eyesight best?
It is important to know how to protect your eyes and vision during everyday activities. Most adults are between the ages of 19 and 40
Do screens damage your eyes?
Although using a computer will not harm your eyes, staring at a computer screen all day will contribute to eyestrain or tired eyes.