How Often Should You Get an Eye Exam? You Might Be Surprised!

Your eyes are super important—they help you see the world! But lots of people only check them when something’s wrong. Eye exams aren’t just for glasses—they can find sneaky problems early. So, how often should you go? It depends on how old you are and what’s going on with your eyes.

Why Eye Exams Are a Big Deal

Eye exams don’t just tell you if you need glasses. They can spot stuff like glaucoma (a sneaky eye disease), cataracts (cloudy eyes), or even clues about bigger health problems like diabetes. These things can hide and get worse without you noticing, so checking your eyes keeps you safe.

How Often Should You Go?

Babies & Kids (0-18):

• First check: Around 6 months old to make sure everything’s okay.
• Ages 3-5: A big exam before school to catch any trouble.
• Ages 6-18: Every 1-2 years, even if your eyes feel fine. Screens can make you nearsighted (hard to see far away), so don’t skip!

Young Adults (18-40):

• Every 2 years if your eyes are good.
• Once a year if you wear glasses or contacts to keep them working right.
• Go more if you get headaches or your eyes hurt from screens.

Grown-Ups (40-60):

• Every 1-2 years, even if you don’t notice problems.
• This is when it gets harder to read close-up stuff or see tiny things.
• The doctor can check for bigger issues like glaucoma.

Older People (60+):

• Once a year—your eyes need extra love now!
• Things like cataracts or blurry spots can pop up more as you age.

Who Needs to Go More?

Some people should check their eyes more often:

• Diabetics: It can mess with your eyes big-time.
• Family eye problems: If your relatives had eye diseases, go yearly.
• Contact lens fans: They can bug your eyes, so check every year.
• Weird eye changes: Blurry vision or pain? Go right away!

Signs You Need to Go Soon

Even if it’s not “time,” watch for these:

• Blurry or double vision (seeing two of everything)
• Headaches all the time
• Hard to see in the dark
• Dry, red, or itchy eyes
• Flashes of light or sudden blackouts

If any of these happen, tell an adult and see an optometrist in Palo Alto tor fast!

What Happens at an Eye Exam?

It’s not scary! Here’s what they do:

• See how good your eyes are: Read letters far and close.
• Check for glasses: Find out if you need them or a new pair.
• Test eye pressure: A puff of air to check for glaucoma.
• Look inside your eyes: They might use drops to see the back of your eye.
• Check the front: A bright light looks at your eyeball parts.

They might ask about screens or how you feel too.

Can You Skip It If Your Eyes Feel Okay?

Nope! Some eye problems are super quiet—like glaucoma, which can sneak up and steal your sight. Skipping means you might miss something big.

How to Keep Your Eyes Happy

Between visits, try these:

• 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds—great for screen breaks!
• Wear sunglasses: They block bad sun rays.
• Eat good stuff: Veggies, fish, and carrots help your eyes.
• Drink water: Dry eyes hate it when you’re thirsty.
• Don’t smoke: It’s bad for your eyes too.

So, When Was Your Last Eye Exam?

Eye checks keep your vision sharp and catch problems early. Can’t remember your last one? Time to go! If you’re near Palo Alto, Refine Optometry can check your eyes or fix stuff like dry eyes.

Book a visit and keep your eyes awesome!