As a parent, your family’s schedule is packed with school, sports, and activities, so it can be easy for routine health appointments to slip through the cracks. But when it comes to eye care, staying on track with your child’s eye health is one of the most important things you can do for your family’s well-being.
So, how often does everyone need their eyes checked? The right schedule depends on age and individual health factors, but regular comprehensive eye exams are a key part of maintaining clear vision and overall wellness for your entire family.
More Than Just Clear Vision
A routine eye exam is much more than a simple vision screening to see if your child needs glasses. It’s a comprehensive check-up for one of their most important senses.
Correct Your Vision Problems
Vision can change gradually, and you might not notice these changes right away. An eye exam helps determine the correct prescription to help you and your children see the world with clarity. This is especially important for kids, as clear vision is closely linked to learning and development. Children often don’t realize they’re having vision issues since the way they see is what feels normal to them.
Spot Eye Conditions Early
Regular exams allow us to look for signs of eye conditions such as glaucoma, strabismus (lazy eye), cataracts, and changes in the retina. Catching these conditions early can help you get timely care, and proactive monitoring helps protect your family’s sight for years to come.
A Window to Your Overall Health
Your eyes can offer clues about your body’s overall health. During an exam, an eye doctor can sometimes spot early signs of other health issues, like high blood pressure or diabetes. It’s another great reason to keep up with your family’s appointments.
Eye Exam Schedules for Your Family
Everyone’s eyes are different, and the right exam schedule often depends on a person’s stage of life. From your toddler to your parents, each family member has unique needs. Here are some general guidelines to help you plan.
Infants
Our eye care clinic offers InfantSEE screenings between 6 and 12 months. This public service program provides a comprehensive eye health check to identify potential vision problems such as crossed eyes, misaligned eyes, focusing issues, and others that typical infant vision tests don’t detect. Your baby’s eyes will be dilated at this visit, so we can get a thorough look at how their eyes are developing.
Children (2-3 Years and Older)
If an InfantSEE screening indicates typical visual development, we suggest scheduling a full eye exam when your child is around 2 to 3 years old. At this stage, vision is a key part of how young children explore their surroundings and begin to learn about the world.
Adults Ages 19 to 64
For adults, the general recommendation is to schedule an eye exam every year. Regular yearly exams help monitor changes in your vision and overall eye health.
Eye Care After Age 65
Annual exams are recommended for all ages. This helps monitor for age-related eye conditions and keeps vision as sharp as possible. Consistent care supports continued independence and quality of life.
The Importance of Annual Eye Exams
Annual eye exams play a key role in protecting your long-term vision and eye health. They allow your optometrist to detect changes early, monitor for potential eye conditions, and keep your prescription up to date so you can continue seeing clearly year after year.
If You Wear Contacts
If you or your child wears contact lenses, it’s important to have an annual eye exam to check the health of your eyes related to contact lens wear. An annual visit allows us to check that your contact lens prescription is still accurate and comfortable—it’s different from a glasses prescription. It also lets us assess the health of your eyes, which is why a separate contact lens evaluation is so important for contact lens wearers.
Health Conditions & Family History
You may need more frequent exams if certain health conditions run in your family or affect you personally. These can include issues like:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Strabismus (eye turn or “lazy eye”)
- A family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration
Medications With Vision Side Effects
Certain medications can have side effects that impact your vision. If you take anything that lists visual changes as a potential side effect, let us know. We can help you determine a suitable exam schedule for your needs.
Signs It’s Time for a Visit
You don’t have to wait for your next scheduled exam if you notice changes to your vision. Some symptoms can indicate an eye emergency, so it’s a good idea to contact Visionary Eye Care if you experience anything new. Trust your instincts—you know your eyes best.
Common Vision Changes
Promptly schedule an appointment if you notice any of these signs:
- Eye pain
- Frequent eye strain
- Sensitivity to light
- Constant redness or dryness
- New floaters or flashes of light
- Sudden Vision Loss
- Foreign Body Sensation
- Seeing halos around lights
- Trouble with driving at night
- Difficulty reading things up close
Can Stress Affect Your Vision?
Yes, high levels of stress can sometimes cause temporary issues like eye twitches, blurred vision, or eye strain. While these problems often resolve on their own, schedule a visit if they persist. We can help you figure out what’s going on.
What to Expect at Visionary Eye Care
We want your family’s visit to be a comfortable and positive experience. An eye exam is a straightforward process, and our team at Visionary Eye Care is here to guide you every step of the way. We take the time to answer questions and make sure everyone feels at ease.
What Happens During Your Visit
During a comprehensive exam, Visionary Eye Care performs several different checks. You’ll read from an eye chart to test vision sharpness. We also look at your peripheral vision, color perception, and how well your eye muscles work together.
A Deeper Look with Dilation
Sometimes, we may use special eye drops to dilate, or widen, your pupils. This doesn’t hurt and gives us a better view of the structures in the back of your eye. At Visionary Eye Care, retinal imaging is performed during every eye exam using our Monaco instrument, which allows our doctors to quickly and comfortably review the retina for any conditions or concerns.
Regular eye exams are a simple and powerful tool for supporting your family’s health and happiness. At Visionary Eye Care in Bromfield, CO, we’re dedicated to providing a fun and compassionate experience for everyone, from the little ones to the grown-ups. Contact us today to schedule appointments for your family!
