August is National Eye Exam Month!

When to have an eye exam... 

Even if you think your eyes are healthy, it's important to get regular check-ups to prevent any issues. Especially those with diseases like diabetes that could impact sight.  Several factors may determine how frequently you need an eye exam, including your age,health and risk of developing eye problems.

General guidelines include:

Children 5 years and younger:
For children under 3, your pediatrician will likely look for the most common eye problems - lazy eye, crossed eyes or turned-out eyes. Depending on your child's willingness to cooperate, his or his first more comprehensive eye exam should be done between the ages of 3 and 5.


School-age children and adolescents:
Have your child's vision checked before he or she enters first grade. If your child has no symptoms of vision problems and you don't have a family history of vision problems, have your child's vision rechecked every two years. If your child does have vision problems or a family history of vision problems, have your child's vision rechecked as advised by your eye doctor.


Adults:
In general, if you're healthy and have no symptoms of vision problems, you should have your vision checked once in your 20's and twice in your 30's. Between ages 40 and 65, have your vision checked every two to four years. After age 65, get your eyes checked every one to two years. If you wear glasses, have a family history of eye disease or have a chronic disease - such as diabetes - that puts you at greater risk of eye disease, you need to have your eyes checked more frequently. You might also need more frequent eye exams to check for retinal problems if you were born prematurely or to monitor your eyes for glaucoma.