Eye Exams

At what age should a person start having eye exams?

Everyone needs eye exams to maintain good vision and overall eye health throughout life. Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam at around 6 months of age, followed by another exam at age 3, and again before starting school (around age 5 or 6). After that, exams should continue regularly based on age and risk factors. 

Adults with no vision problems should begin getting eye exams every 1–2 years starting in their 20s, while seniors and those with eye conditions or risk factors may need them more often.

What happens during eye exams?

At Hamilton Vistasite Eye Care, an eye exam is more than just a vision check. During your comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor does the following:

• Reviews your personal and family health history
• Tests your visual acuity (how clearly you see at different distances)
• Checks for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
• Measures eye pressure to screen for glaucoma
• Examines your eye muscles, pupils, and eye alignment
• Uses dilating drops to examine the retina and optic nerve

These tests help identify both vision problems and underlying eye diseases, even if you don’t have any noticeable symptoms.

What issues can eye exams address?

Eye exams can detect a wide range of issues, including:

• Refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism)
• Eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration
• Retinal problems, including diabetic retinopathy
• Signs of high blood pressure, diabetes, or other systemic health issues
• Eye strain or digital eye fatigue
• Binocular vision issues (how well your eyes work together)

Regular exams are especially important for detecting problems early before they cause vision loss.

How often should people have eye exams?

The recommended frequency depends on age, vision status, and overall health:

• Children: at 6 months, 3 years, before school, then every 1–2 years
• Adults (18–60): every 1–2 years if no symptoms or risk factors
• Adults (60+): every year

If you have a health condition like diabetes or wear glasses or contacts, you need an eye exam annually or as advised by your provider.

Book an eye exam today and begin a routine schedule to protect your sight for the long term. Call or use the online scheduler now.