You have your annual physicals. You see your dentist regularly. You’ve got this healthcare thing down. But is your eye doctor on that list?
Regular exams keep your vision strong, but they also detect eye diseases early — many of which go unnoticed for a long time.
During an eye exam, an optometrist or ophthalmologist (eye doctor) will check your:
- Visual acuity: how clearly you can see
- Eye alignment: where each eye is looking when you focus on one spot
- Eye movement: how your muscles move your eyes around
They'll also look inside your eyes to check for signs of eye disease, such as cataracts and glaucoma, or other health problems, including high blood pressure and diabetes.
Whether your eye exam serves to help you see more clearly or to monitor your risk for eye diseases, it's difficult to argue the benefit of getting your eyes checked.
Depending on your age, health history and even gender, recommendations for how often you should see your doctor may differ.
"According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, all individuals should have a complete eye exam by the time they are 40," says Prathima Neerukonda Atluri, MD, assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology at Penn Medicine. "Based on the findings of that eye exam, your ophthalmologist will be able to recommend how frequently you need to be followed. By the time we are 65, we are often followed annually by our ophthalmologist."
Here are five signs you might need an eye exam:
1. You Can't Remember When You Had Your Last Eye Exam
If you don't know the last time you had a thorough eye exam, it's probably been a while. Many eye diseases have no symptoms at first, and they may go unnoticed and continue to worsen over time. Screening can help lead to getting treated sooner and avoiding a worst-case scenario.
Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for treating common eye disease, such as:
So, how often should you have an eye exam? That depends on your age and other risk factors.
If you have no risk factors, ask your doctor if every two years is sufficient. Once you turn 65, talk to your doctor about bumping that up to every year. If you have other risk factors, such as a family history of eye disease, you'll need to go to the eye doctor annually, no matter your age.
2. You Have A High Risk for Eye Diseases
Just like with any other aspect of your health, there are certain things that can increase your risk of developing eye diseases — some of which are out of your control. You should ask about having your eyes checked every year if you:
- Have a personal or family history of eye disease, including cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or macular degeneration
- Are African American or Mexican American
- Have diabetes, which can lead to diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or cataracts
- Have a job that's visually demanding, such as using the computer all day
- Wear contact lenses
- Have had eye surgery or an eye injury in the past
- Have eyesight that continues to worsen over time
3. Your Vision is Getting Worse
If you're struggling a little more to read the signs on the road or the text on this screen, that's a good reason to go see your eye doctor. More than 150 million Americans use some sort of corrective eyewear, such as glasses or contacts. Some have trouble seeing far away (nearsightedness), and others struggle to see close up (farsightedness).
Vision problems can make it difficult to go about your daily routine — but eye strain can also cause headaches. This happens when your eyes aren't focusing as they should, causing them to work harder than normal. Usually, a headache caused by eye strain will occur after you use your eyes for an extended period of time, such as reading, working on the computer or even sewing.
4. You Have Allergies
If your eyes are red and irritated — but you don't see anything in them — you might have allergies. You may not even get the tell-tale signs of sneezing, sniffing or stuffy nose, but you may have eye allergies if you are experiencing:
- Itchiness
- Redness
- Burning
- Clear, watery discharge
Eye allergies can be caused by:
- Outdoor allergens, such as grass, trees and weeds
- Indoor allergens, such as pet dander, mold and dust mites
- Irritants, such as smoke or perfume
Depending on the severity, your eye doctor might recommend you use over-the-counter or prescription eye drops and medications. They may also refer you to an allergist, a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies.
5. You're Having Other Eye Problems
If you feel like something might be wrong with your eyes, don't wait until your next appointment. You may be experiencing early signs of eye disease or eye infection or injury.
Nearly 1 million Americans get an eye infection that requires medical attention each year, and roughly 2.4 million Americans suffer an eye injury. Listen to your body — if you're concerned about your eye health, make an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible.
Other reasons to see your eye doctor may include:
- Draining or redness in on or both eyes
- Eye pain
- Double vision
- Floaters (tiny specks that seem to be floating before your eyes)
- Circles or halos around lights
- Flashes of light
Keeping Your Eyes Healthy Between Exams
Beyond getting your eyes checked regularly, there are simple ways to maintain your eye health:
- Eating a healthy diet, including leafy greens like spinach and kale
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Wearing sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of harmful UV-A and UV-B radiation from the sun
- Quitting smoking — or not starting at all
- Following the 20-20-20 rule if you spend a lot of time focusing on a screen — every 20 minutes, look about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds
Healthy eyes are an essential part of your overall health. By keeping up with regular eye exams and maintaining your eye health, you could be saving yourself vision and health problems in the near future and for years to come.