EYE EXAMS

Preparing for an Eye Exam

Eyecare experts recommend that everyone have a complete eye exam every one to three years, depending on age, risk factors, and physical condition.
Children: Some experts estimate that approximately one in 20 preschool children and one in four school-aged children have an eye problem that could cause permanent vision loss if left untreated. Children without symptoms and who are at low risk for eye problems should have their eyes screened by six months of age, then examined at age three and again at the start of school. Risk-free children should then continue to have their eyes examined at least every two years throughout school.
Any child who does have risk factors for vision problems may need to have more frequent eye exams. Some examples of common risk factors include:
prematurity
developmental delays
turned or crossed eyes
family history of eye disease
history of eye injury
other physical illness or disease
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), children who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses need to be seen annually to keep their prescriptions current.
Adults: The AOA also recommends an annual eye exam for any adult who wears eyeglasses or contacts. If you don't normally need vision correction, you still need an eye exam every two to three years up to the age of 40, depending on your rate of visual change and overall health. Doctors often recommend more frequent examinations for adults with diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders, because many diseases can have an impact on the health of your eyes.
If you are over 40, it's a good idea to have your eyes examined every one to two years to check for common age-related eye problems such as presbyopia, cataracts and macular degeneration.
Because the risk of eye disease continues to increase with advancing age, everyone over the age of 60 should be examined annually. The American Optometric Association provides the general guidelines shown below.

Who Should I See for My Eye Exam?
There are three different kinds of eyecare professionals: ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians. Who you should see depends on your needs.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MDs or DOs) who specialize in eyecare. Not only do they prescribe eyeglasses and contacts, but they also perform eye surgery and treat medical conditions of the eye. Ophthalmologists are doctors who have received 12 or more years of training.
Optometrists (ODs) are eye doctors who can prescribe glasses and contacts and treat medical conditions of the eye with eyedrops and other medicines. Optometrists generally receive eight or more years of training. Optometrists prescribe glasses, contacts, low vision aids, vision therapy and medication to treat eye diseases, as well as perform certain minor surgical procedures.
Opticians are not doctors, but eyecare professionals who adjust and repair glasses, instruct patients in contact-lens use and grind and assemble spectacles. In some cases, specially trained opticians can determine your prescription and fit contact lenses. Opticians generally receive their training either "on the job" by apprenticeship or from technical schools.