Eye Health Education
How Often Should You Have an Eye Test?
Most people visit an optometrist only when something feels wrong. But many of the most serious eye conditions develop without any symptoms at all. This guide explains how often you should be having an eye examination - at every age.
The most common reason people visit an optometrist is because something is already wrong - blurred vision, a headache, difficulty reading. But waiting for a symptom before seeking an eye examination means missing the conditions that cause no symptoms until they have already caused damage.
Glaucoma, for example, destroys peripheral vision gradually and painlessly. Diabetic retinopathy can cause irreversible harm before a person notices any change in their sight. An undetected refractive error in a child can quietly impair their development for years.
Routine eye examinations are not just vision checks. They are diagnostic assessments of the health of the eye and, increasingly, of systemic health too - the retina offers one of the only direct windows into blood vessels and nerve tissue without requiring a surgical procedure.
The question is not whether to have regular eye examinations. It is understanding the right frequency for your age and circumstances.
Infants and toddlers (0–3 years)
The visual system is still developing in the first years of life. Conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (misalignment of the eyes), and significant refractive errors need to be identified as early as possible - ideally before the age of three - because the brain is still in the critical period when visual correction can produce lasting improvement.
An infant's first eye examination should ideally occur within the first year of life, or earlier if parents notice any unusual eye movement or appearance. Many visual problems in this age group have no external signs at all.
School-age children (4–12 years)
Children in this age group should have a comprehensive eye examination every twelve months. This period is when myopia typically develops and progresses, when the demands of reading and learning place significant strain on developing visual systems, and when undetected vision problems begin to affect school performance and behaviour.
A child does not need to be struggling with vision to benefit from an annual eye examination. Children adapt to the vision they have - they often do not know that their sight is below the standard it should be.
Teenagers (13–18 years)
During adolescence, myopia can progress quickly as the eyes continue to develop alongside the rest of the body. Annual eye examinations remain important, and any existing myopia should be monitored closely. Screen use increases significantly in this period, and digital eye strain is a common but often overlooked issue.
If a teenager is already wearing spectacles or contact lenses, their prescription should be reviewed at least every twelve months.
Adults (18–40 years)
Adults in good general health with no known eye conditions or risk factors should have a comprehensive eye examination every two years as a minimum. For those who wear spectacles or contact lenses, annual reviews are advisable to ensure the prescription remains accurate.
This is also the period when early signs of conditions like keratoconus - a progressive thinning of the cornea - may first present. At Sanders, our OCT scanner can detect these changes long before they would be visible in a standard examination.
Adults over 40
From the age of around 40, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible and near vision begins to deteriorate - a normal process called presbyopia. This is usually when people first reach for reading glasses, and it is also when the risk of conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration begins to rise.
Annual eye examinations are recommended from this point forward, regardless of whether a prescription is being worn. Detecting the early signs of these conditions before they progress is one of the clearest advantages of routine eye care.
Adults over 60
The frequency of eye examinations should increase as we age. Annual examinations are standard from 60 onwards, with some individuals requiring more frequent monitoring depending on their clinical picture.
The conditions that account for most cases of vision loss in older adults - age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts - are all detectable in their early stages with the right diagnostic technology. At Sanders, our OCT imaging allows us to monitor the macula and optic nerve head with a level of detail not possible with a standard slit-lamp examination alone.
When you should be seen more frequently
Regardless of age, certain factors indicate a need for more frequent eye examinations:
• A personal or family history of glaucoma, macular degeneration or diabetic eye disease
• A diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension
• High myopia (prescription of -6.00 or above)
• Current use of medications known to affect the eyes
• Any sudden change in vision, new floaters or flashes, or eye discomfort
If any of the above apply to you, speak to your optometrist about an appropriate review schedule.
What does a comprehensive eye examination at Sanders include?
At Sanders Optometrist, a comprehensive examination goes beyond a simple prescription check. Depending on your age, history, and clinical needs, your examination may include a refraction assessment, intraocular pressure measurement, assessment of the anterior and posterior eye, OCT retinal imaging and a full discussion of your findings. Our approach is thorough by design - because every examination is an opportunity to protect vision that cannot be replaced.
If you are not sure when you last had a comprehensive eye examination, the right time to book is now.
