How often should adults get their eyes checked?

When was your last eye exam? If it’s been more than two years, you are overdue.

Eye exams aren’t just about updating your glasses or contact lens prescription, they are a vital part of your overall health. Your eyes can reveal signs of conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammatory diseases, and even certain neurological issues, often before you notice any symptoms. Your eyes are one of the few places where we can see blood vessels and nerves directly, making eye exams one of the most powerful early detection tools in healthcare.

So, how often should adults really get their eyes checked? Let’s break it down.

Ages 18–64: Every 1-2 Years

If you’re generally healthy and not experiencing any vision issues, a comprehensive eye exam every two years is usually enough.

However, you may need more frequent visits if you:

  • Wear glasses or contact lenses and are noticing changes

  • Spend long hours on screens

  • Have a family history of eye disease

  • Have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other health conditions

  • Feel that reading had become more difficult (this is especially true for people 40+ years old)

Ages 65 and Older: Every Year

After age 65, yearly eye exams become especially important. Many age-related eye conditions can progress silently, so routine checks help catch problems early, when they’re most treatable. Glaucoma has been named “the silent thief of sight”. This is because in the early stages of glaucoma there are no symptoms, only a comprehensive eye exam will detect the early signs.

There have been many times where our optometrists have detected early signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammatory diseases and even imminent stroke. While vision is an important part of an eye exam, there is so much more that we can detect.




What Happens During an Eye Exam?

A comprehensive eye exam includes more than just a vision test. Your optometrist will:

  • Check your visual acuity (how clearly you see)

  • Evaluate your eye coordination and muscle function

  • Examine your retina, optic nerve, and eye pressure

    • We use a retina camera and OCT to give us a detailed view of your ocular health

    • We don’t do the ‘air puff test’ at our office, instead we use an I-Care tonometer which is a much gentler approach for checking eye pressure

  • Screen for glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye diseases

    • Extra testing may be required such as a visual field test or a topography image, both are available at View Optometry

Even if you don’t wear glasses or contacts, these exams can uncover hidden issues that affect your long-term vision and health.

Signs You Should Schedule an Exam Sooner

If you experience any of the following, don’t wait:

  • Blurry or double vision

  • Eye strain or headaches

  • Trouble seeing at night or while driving

  • Flashes of light or floaters

  • Eye pain or redness

These could be signs of changes in your prescription or something more serious.




Protect Your Vision for Life

Your eyes change over time, often in ways that are subtle and easy to ignore. But regular eye exams are one of the simplest and most important ways to protect your vision and overall health.

Need to book your next eye exam?
Schedule an appointment today and keep your eyes (and body) healthy for years to come.

Teri Hines