Eye Exam 101: How Often Should You Get Them?
Your eyes can change over time, just like any other part of your body. Therefore, checkups are important for everyone as they can help you keep your eyes healthy and alleviate some of the issues of poor vision. To stay on top of your eyesight, here’s what you should look for to determine when you should get an eye exam.
Bad Eyesight Symptoms
One of the best ways to determine if you need an eye exam is if you notice a reoccurring issue. Things like frequent eye strain, squinting, and headaches can be the result of worsening vision. When your eyes change, it will happen slowly, so you’ll likely need to rely on these symptoms to determine if your vision is different.
Vision Problems
Another common issue that can indicate the necessity for an eye exam is if you can’t see things you could before. This takes a lot of awareness, as it can be difficult to notice small changes in your vision. Some common signs are having a difficult time reading a sign on the wall or a chalkboard in a classroom.
Periodic Checkups
While you can wait for these signs to go for an eye exam, you’ll likely have symptoms for a while before you notice the changes. Your best bet is to take preventative measures so you can avoid difficulty seeing and the other symptoms of bad vision. The frequency of eye exams changes depending on your age.
20–39 years old: Go every 5 years or when you notice symptoms or issues.
40–54 years old: Go every 2–4 years or when you notice symptoms or issues.
55+ years old: Go every 1–3 years or when you notice symptoms or issues.
Following these rules will help you get ahead of worsening vision, even if you have had perfect vision beforehand. If you do find that your eyesight is worse, you should invest in fashionable prescription glasses, like these cat-eye glasses readers.
This guide should help you get eye exams at the proper frequency to avoid the biggest issues of improper prescriptions. Checkups can make a huge difference in the quality of your life, as you can prevent migraines and other symptoms while seeing the world as you should.