How often should you have your eyes tested?

Whether you wear prescription glasses, sunglasses or contact lenses, regular eye exams are essential to ensure that your eyes are healthy and that your lenses are up to date.  But how frequently should you have your eyes tested?

There are many factors that affect how frequently you should be having eye exams, such as age, health and family history of eye disorders (macular degeneration, cataracts or glaucoma amongst others). They can be necessary when conditions are present early in life, but usually, starting at 18, it is recommended for most people to get their eyes checked every two years for updates on their prescription for optical frames or sunglasses. However, for individuals that are over 60 or that have certain conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, the recommendation is to have an eye exam every year.

Even if it hasn’t been two years since the last consultation, it is important to always pay attention to your vision and eye health - especially in modern days, when we are exposed to so much screen time. Changes in your vision, discomfort or pain in your eyes, or eye strain or fatigue are indicators that you might need an eye checkup and update your prescription for optical lenses or sunglasses before your next consultation.

Many people choose to only have optical frames when they have any kind of condition, but it is important to also have prescription lenses fitted to sunglasses, as they correct their eyesight while protecting their eyes from long-term exposure to the damaging UV rays of the sun. In many cases, individuals will still wear their optical frames out in the sun to be able to see properly or will wear regular sunglasses - so one of the two needs is always compromised.