How Often Should You See an Eye Doctor? 

Having good eyesight is paramount to good living, especially in our later years. Taking care of your eyes is very important to prevent any retinal problems in the near future. Regular visit for eye checkup helps identify underlying health conditions in addition to any issues with our vision. As we grow older, there is a possibility that the natural ageing of our eye can make it quite harder for us to focus on nearby objects like the print on a novel or a menu. 

One can also become more sensitive to glare. With growing age, there is always the risk of developing sight-threatening eye conditions. Besides, there are several factors like poor diet, direct exposure to sunlight, lack of physical activity and smoking, all of which can take a severe toll on your vision. 

Frequent visits to an eye doctor can help keep your eyes sharp and to identify any eye problems at quite an early stage. 

How Often Should one Visit an Eye Doctor? 

A majority of us must visit an eye doctor at least once in two years. Individuals above the age of 40, and have a close relative suffering from glaucoma, or any other eye condition must visit an eye doctor at least once in a year or as recommended by your physician. Adults falling in the age group of 20 to 39 must undergo a complete eye exam at least once in 2-3 years. In the case of children, it is best advised to get their eyes tested before they enter kindergarten or first grade.  

What do Eye Doctors look for during an Eye Health Check? 

During an eye health check, your doctor looks for specific eye problems such as glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). All three of them are known to be the leading cause of vision loss.

Also, they look for other conditions like dry eye syndrome, the most common cause of eye irritation in individuals aged above 65, and floaters, little dots which are usually caused by general wear and tear. 

Why is it Essential to get an Eye Check-Up Done Regularly? 

Eye exams or eye check-ups help in identifying any small changes in the health of our eyes. Frequent eye check-ups are quite essential as they help determine how well you see, any possible vision problems you may have or can develop, the type of vision you possess and so on. A majority of the eye problems only become noticeable after the occurrence of a progressed damage. In some cases, eye problems cannot be reversed by the time we visit an eye doctor. 

Eye tests are also carried out by the doctor based on your unique symptoms as well as family history. Few of these tests include depth perception, visual acuity, muscle movement, eye pressures, shape and size of the pupils, colour vision and visual fields. Your doctor will discuss the health of your eyes based on your test results and will recommend the best course of action in case an eye problem exists. 

Nowadays, few eye doctors also carry out digital retinal photography to get a clear picture of the health of the eye. It can help indicate the presence of certain conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step toward better eyesight. If you can’t travel far enough, a simple Google search for ‘eye doctors near me’ will yield the best results based on your location.