It’s important for everyone to have eye exams on a regular basis.  Having your eyes examined by an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist is the best way to keep your eyes healthy and to make sure you are seeing the world as clearly as possible.

How frequently you should have eye exams is determined by your age, your health, whether you wear contact lenses, your family medical history, and other factors.  Here’s what the experts say about how often you should see an eye doctor  for routine exams:

Our eye doctors recommend that you have regular eye exams according to the following schedule:

People with added risk factors for vision or health problems should have their eyes examined more frequently. Risk factors for different age groups include:

Risk factors for infants and young children:

• Infants born prematurely or with low birth weight.

• Infants whose mother had rubella, sexually-transmitted disease (STD) or AIDS-related infection during pregnancy.

• Family history of crossed eyes or eye disease.

• Family history of high Refractive error (i.e. nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism).

Risk factors for school-aged children:

• Reading and/or learning difficulties.

• Complaints of headaches or tired eyes.

• Squinting.

• Needing glasses for nearsightedness at an early age.

• Family history of high refractive error.

Risk factors for adults:

• Individuals diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension.

• Family history of diabetes or hypertension.

• Family history of Glaucoma or cataracts.

• Individuals who have a visually-demanding job or an occupation that may be hazardous to the eyes.

• Individuals taking medications that may have ocular side-effects.

• Individuals who have other health concerns or conditions.

Our doctors recommends that you see your eye doctor to determine how frequently you should have your eyes examined if you have (or might have) any of the above risk factors.

Choosing when to schedule eye exams for yourself and your children is your responsibility. Be sure everyone in your family has regular eye exams to protect their precious gift of sight and ensure they are seeing their world as clearly and comfortably as possible.