How Often Should You Have an Eye Exam?

Many people wait until they can no longer read road signs or find themselves holding a menu at arm’s length before booking an eye exam.

However, eye exams are not only about deciding whether you need new glasses. A comprehensive exam can assess your prescription, visual function and the health of your eyes—even when your vision seems perfectly clear.

General Eye-Exam Recommendations

For low-risk people without symptoms, the Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends the following general schedule:

• Infants and toddlers: A first examination between six and nine months of age

• Preschool children: At least one examination between two and five years of age

• School-aged children between six and 19: Every year

• Adults between 20 and 64: Every two years

• Adults 65 and older: Every year or as recommended

These are general recommendations. Your optometrist may advise a different schedule based on your health, family history, prescription or previous examination results.

Why Book an Exam When You Can See Clearly?

Clear vision does not always mean your eyes are healthy.

Some eye conditions may develop gradually and produce few noticeable symptoms in their early stages. A person may also have good central vision while experiencing other changes involving peripheral vision, eye pressure, focusing or eye coordination.

An eye exam creates an opportunity to identify concerns earlier and establish a record that can be compared over time.

Who May Need More Frequent Exams?

You may need appointments more often when you:

• Have diabetes or another health condition that can affect the eyes

• Have a family history of glaucoma or other eye disease

• Wear contact lenses

• Have a strong or rapidly changing prescription

• Take medication that may affect the eyes

• Have experienced an eye injury or surgery

• Regularly experience headaches, eye strain or blurry vision

• Have been advised to return sooner by an eye-care professional

Children may also need more frequent monitoring when they have an eye turn, reduced vision in one eye, a rapidly changing prescription or another diagnosed condition.

Your Prescription Can Change Gradually

Vision changes are not always dramatic. You may compensate by squinting, moving closer, increasing text size or avoiding driving at night without realizing you are doing it.

Common signs that it may be time for an exam include:

• Blurry vision at distance or near

• Frequent headaches

• Eye fatigue

• Difficulty with night driving

• Halos or increased glare around lights

• Holding reading material farther away

• Closing one eye to see more clearly

• Taking longer to adjust between near and far distances

• Needing brighter light to read

A new prescription is not always the answer, but an exam can help determine the cause.

Eye Exams and Eyewear Checkups Are Different

An eye exam evaluates your vision and eye health. An eyewear adjustment checks the physical condition and fit of your glasses.

Even with a current prescription, crooked or poorly fitting glasses can affect comfort. Loose screws, damaged nose pads, stretched temples and frames that sit unevenly may change how you look through the lenses.

Regular adjustments can help your glasses sit where they were intended to sit.

Do Not Wait for a Routine Appointment When Symptoms Are Sudden

Sudden vision loss, a curtain or shadow in your vision, new flashes of light, a sudden increase in floaters, significant eye pain, an injury or sudden double vision should not be treated as a routine “maybe I need new glasses” situation.

Seek urgent professional care.

Make Eye Care Part of Your Routine

Instead of waiting until something feels wrong, add eye exams to your regular health-care calendar.

At 3 for 1 Glasses, we can help you choose new eyewear after your examination, review lens options and make sure your frames are fitted properly. Visit us at 1550 Upper James Street in Hamilton, or contact us to ask about current eye-exam availability.