Eye care professionals recommend that you undertake an eye exam once every two years. This may differ based on your age, risk factors, and usage of contacts or eyeglasses. Vision screenings may identify eye problems, but they are not substitutes for a comprehensive eye exam. A more detailed eye exam can diagnose issues that can be missed in a screening. Besides, it can detect the primary causes behind the various eye problems.
What Is An Eye Exam?
An eye exam comprises a series of tests to assess your vision and check for eye diseases. Regular eye exams will see to it that your eye problems are identified in their initial stages and addressed promptly.
During an eye exam, an ophthalmologist will evaluate the various aspects of your eye health and check for possible underlying diseases. In addition to a comprehensive eye exam, there are other eye exams that you may need based on your age, family history, and general eye health. For instance, you may need to have your eyes checked for optic nerve damage if you suffer from illnesses like glaucoma or diabetes.
How Often Should You Undergo An Eye Exam?
The frequency of eye exams differs depending on age, risk factors, and if you are already wearing corrective eyeglasses. But the recommended rule is that you undergo a comprehensive eye exam once every two years.
Babies generally must have their eyesight examined by a pediatrician when they are six months old, and older children should have an eye exam before they start school. After that, it is advised to have their eyes checked every two years until they are eighteen, provided there are no risk factors or corrective lenses involved.
For adults, it is recommended to get your eyes examined once every two years unless there are specific risk factors for hereditary conditions like macular degeneration or glaucoma. In such cases, it is best to ask an eye care professional to suggest how frequently you need to get an exam done.
Suppose you suffer from chronic ailments like diabetes or high blood pressure. In that case, you should probably undertake more frequent testing since these conditions are more likely to cause extensive damage to the blood vessels of your eyes. Also, inform your ophthalmologist if you take certain prescription medication, as some drugs may harm your eyesight.
And unfortunately, if you incur an eye injury, such as an object scraping your eye, chemicals or acid exposure, or a sporting injury, you should get checked out by a professional immediately to be safe.
Healthy eyes and vision can enhance your quality of life. So if you are overdue, don’t hesitate to book your next appointment. Visit our office, Summerlin Vision, at 900 S Pavilion Center Dr #140, Las Vegas, NV 89144, or call (702) 243-8788 and schedule an appointment.