Eye exams are beneficial for everyone in keeping their eyes healthy, seeing clear, and building a medical history that can help prolong the health of your eyes and physical health.
A comprehensive eye exam by Dr. Carl Roth includes the basic prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, but your eyes will be checked with several tests in order to determine your eyes overall health. Common eye diseases can be discovered early through a thorough exam, and early detection makes treatment easier and more proactive.
Tests during the eye exam may range from simple ones, like reading an eye chart, to complex tests, such as using a high-powered lens to examine the health of the tissues inside of your eyes.
Eyecare experts recommend you have a complete eye exam every one to three years, depending on your age, risk factors, and physical condition.
Exams for Children
Studies have shown that about 5% to 10% of preschoolers, and 1 out of 4 school-aged children struggle with vision related problems - some that an eye chart cannot catch. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), all children should have their eyes examined by a qualified eye doctor like Dr. Roth at 6 months of age, at age 3 and again at the start of school.
Even if your child has great vision and doesn't wear glasses, getting an eye exam every other year is important in case their vision changes.
However, children with existing vision problems or risk factors should have their eyes examined more frequently, and we recommend you contact our office to discuss what is best for your child.
Common risk factors for vision problems include:
- premature birth
- developmental delays
- turned or crossed eyes
- family history of eye disease
- history of eye injury
- other physical illness or disease
The AOA recommends that children who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses should have their eyes examined at least every 12 months or according to their eye doctor's instructions. Read more about Pediatric Eye Exams.
Exams for 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. Bridger Eyecare often sees patients on a yearly basis, and more frequent examinations for adults with diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders, because many diseases can have an impact on vision and eye health.
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. Read more about Vision After 40.
Because the risk of eye disease continues to increase with advancing age, everyone over the age of 60 should be examined annually. Read more about Vision After 60.