Eyesight can change without us noticing, so keeping up with regular eye exams is crucial. But when is the best time to get your eyes checked? Let’s focus on finding the perfect moment for an eye exam.
The Early Years
Let’s start from the beginning. Kids should have their first eye exam at about six months old. Yes, that is early! Even if they can’t read charts or tell you what they see, eye doctors can use lights and lenses to peek into their eyes’ health. Another check-up should be done around age three and then again right before they start school. Good vision is critical to learning, so you want to ensure your child’s eyes are perfect.
School Days
For school-aged children, eye exams should be on the annual to-do list. Their eyes constantly change, and an undiagnosed vision problem could be mistaken for a learning difficulty. Plus, let’s be honest: kids aren’t the best at telling us when something’s wrong. They might not even realize their vision isn’t clear.
The Busy Years
As an adult, you might think you’re too busy for an eye exam, but this is when you should start paying more attention to your vision. If you have no eye problems, getting a check-up every two years is okay. However, if you wear glasses or contact lenses or have a condition that affects your eyes, such as diabetes, you should stick to an annual exam. It’s a small time investment that can save your sight.
The Age Factor
Once you hit 40, it’s time to get more serious about eye care. This is when early signs of disease and changes in vision may first appear. From this age onward, an eye exam every one to two years is recommended, even if you’ve never needed glasses.
Golden Years
At age 65 and beyond, make sure to have your eyes checked every year. This is when you want to catch any issue early, whether it’s cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, or glaucoma. Remember, some conditions don’t have warning signs, but they can be managed well if caught early.
Special Situations
There are moments when you’ll need to see an eye doctor outside the usual schedule. If you’re experiencing symptoms like blurred vision, eye pain, flashes of light, new floaters, or a sudden loss of vision, don’t wait. These could be signs of serious issues that need immediate attention.
What About Contact Lens Wearers?
If you wear contacts, you might need more frequent visits. Contacts sit right on your eyes, and if they’re not fitting well or they’re not the right prescription, they can cause problems. Plus, you’ll need a current prescription to buy new lenses, which is a good excuse to keep those appointments regular.
Personal and Family Health History
Your family’s eye health history greatly affects how often you need an exam. If your family has a history of eye disease, you should go more often. The same goes for personal health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, which can affect your eyes.
The Bottom Line
What is the best time for an eye exam? It’s different for everyone, depending on age, health, and lifestyle. But if we had to pick the perfect moment, it would be now if it has been a while since you’ve been. Eye health is easy to take for granted, but once it starts to fade, you realize how much you rely on those two seeing spheres in your head.
Regular check-ups help you see the world clearly and keep your eyes healthy for years.
At Lens & Frames Optical, the best time to check your eyes is now, especially if it’s been a while. We use the latest technology to ensure your vision is at its best, and our frame selection ensures you’ll leave looking great, too. Schedule your appointment today—because clear vision and stylish frames should always be in season.
