How Often Do I Need a Comprehensive Eye Exam?
If you haven’t had an eye exam recently, you may wonder if you really need one. The short answer is yes, but the longer answer is a bit more complex. Comprehensive eye exams do more than just check how well you can see.
When you have a comprehensive eye exam, we check for the overall health of your eyes, which is extremely important. As eye doctors, we can detect potential health problems, often even before you know about them.
Here at Eye Q Optique, and our team guide you one knowing when and how often to have comprehensive eye exams.
Knowing when to get your eyes checked
If your eyes are healthy and your vision is clear, you might only need an eye exam once every three years when you’re in your 20s and again in your 30s, to provide a baseline.
If you pass your eye tests, you should be checked at age 40. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, you’re at greater risk of developing conditions that could affect your eyesight at this age and beyond.
When you might need an additional eye exam
If you’re noticing that you don’t see as clearly as you once did, you definitely need to schedule an appointment for an eye exam, even if you’ve previously had good vision.
You might have nearsightedness (can’t see things far away) or farsightedness (can’t see things close up). You might also have astigmatism, which is a curvature of the eye that affects your vision.
You need to make an appointment for an eye exam immediately if you experience any of the following conditions:
Eye infection
Eye injury
Eye pain
In addition, you should get eye exams more frequently if you have a family history of diabetes.
When to get checked if you wearing contacts or glasses
If you wear contact lenses or glasses, we recommend that you get an eye exam every year. Your prescription for contacts or glasses can change quite a bit in a year, causing you not to see as well. We can provide you with a new prescription with each visit, as needed.
Special circumstances that require more frequent screenings
You might have special circumstances that can require more frequent eye exams that include the following:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Family history of eye disease
Being over 65 years of age
Your eyesight can’t often be restored once lost, so it’s very important to keep up with your screenings.
Comprehensive eye exams are an essential part of preserving your vision. If you’re due for an eye exam, don’t wait. Contact us at the Eye Q Optique one of our three locations — two in Chicago and one in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.