A lot of people wonder “How often should you have an eye test?” It’s important to get your eyes tested on a regular basis, as it can help detect any potential problems early on. A sight test can also help to ensure that your prescription is up-to-date. In this blog post, we will be discussing how often you should get your eyes tested, depending on your age group.
Why an eye test is needed to maintain optimal eye health?
Regular eye tests are important not just for people with vision problems but also for those who don’t think they have any issues with their eyesight or eye health. Unlike obvious physical problems, eye issues may not be instantly noticeable and that’s why it is important to book in routine checks with your optometrist.
It’s essential to get your eyes tested on a regular basis in order to maintain optimal eye health and catch any potential problems early on. How often you will need to get your eyes tested will depend on your age group and factors such as whether you wear glasses or contact lenses.
Your eyes are an important part of your overall health, so it’s crucial to have them checked regularly. An eye exam can detect a range of problems, such as long- and short-sightedness, astigmatism and cataracts. They can also help to identify underlying health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
An eye test is quick and easy, and it’s the best way to find out if you need to wear glasses or contact lenses. It’s also a good opportunity to ask any questions you might have about your eyesight.
An eye exam will help to identify:
- Eye diseases
- Intraocular pressure
- Lazy eye
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Squint (where the two eyes do not look in the same direction)
What should you expect during routine vision screening?
There are several tests involved in a routine eye exam in order to check both your vision and for any potential eye diseases. Your doctor will probably use a couple of different instruments, shine bright lights into your eyes, and have you look through different lenses. Each test judges something else regarding your vision or overall eye health.
The optician will seek from you further information about current or past eye problems you have, as well as any family history of vision impairments (as some conditions can be passed down genetically).
Before your optician appointments, you might have to do some tests like ‘auto-refraction’ and ‘tonometry.’ These respectively tell the optician a rough estimate of any spectacle prescription you need and measure the pressure inside your eye.
The most well-known type of eye examination is the vision test (also known as a “refraction test”). The optician uses a letter chart (professionally known as a Snellen chart) to assess visual acuity. In some modern practices, these have been replaced with a stereoscopic version which is more effective and can also be configured to examine the vision in each eye individually.
So, now on to the main focus of this article: how often should you get your eyes tested?
How often should adults get eye tests?
For adults aged 18-60 with no vision problems, we recommend having an eye test every two years. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, we recommend having an eye test every year. Once a year is also the recommended regularity if you have a family history of eye problems such as glaucoma, are diabetic or suffer from migraines with visual aura.
You should also have an immediate eye examination and seek advice if:
– You experience sudden changes in your vision
– Your eyes are red and painful
– You have a black spot in your field of vision that was not previously there
– You’re experiencing long periods of eye strain despite taking regular screen breaks
How often should children get eye tests?
In the UK, a newborn baby will have an eye test in their first few days of life and then, once more, when they are between 2-3 months old. At this stage, the optician will be looking at the child’s eyesight to see if cataracts are present. As your child’s eyes develop, afflictions like squint, lazy eye and short long sight will not be detectable in your child’s vision until they are a few years old, normally 3. In the UK, children under 16 and those who are 16, 17 or 18 but still in full-time education are eligible for a free NHS eye test.
A lot of childhood eye problems can be rectified if detected early so it’s important to get your child’s vision checked as soon as you’re able to and well before they start school.
As your child grows up, they should continue to have eye exams every year until the age of 16.
How often should the elderly get eye tests?
For adults over the age of 60, we recommend having an eye test every year, even if you don’t wear glasses or contact lenses. People of this age and older are more likely to be impacted by age-related macular degeneration (a condition that affects the middle part of your vision) and are at higher risk of other eyesight and vision issues. Like young children, people over 60 are entitled to a free NHS sight test.
Booking An Eye Test With Belson & Sons
At Belson Opticians, we offer a wide range of services to help you maintain healthy eyesight. We have a team of experienced opticians and optometrists who are dedicated to providing the best possible care for our patients.
We are third-generation, independent family opticians who have been serving Essex since 1955. We instil the family values of care, commitment and trust into our business which is why we are proud to say so many people rely on us when it comes to looking after their own and their families’ eye health.
To book in for your eye test with Belson & Sons, don’t hesitate to contact a member of our friendly team today who will be more than happy to assist you or answer your questions.