How Often Should You Have an Eye Exam?
In Baldwin Park and the San Gabriel Valley
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How often adults should have a comprehensive eye exam, and when you need one sooner.
The right exam schedule for your age and risk
How often you need an eye exam depends on your age, your health and your family history. The schedule below follows the recommendations of the American Academy of Ophthalmology for a comprehensive medical eye exam.
Adults with no eye symptoms or risk factors
| Age | Comprehensive eye exam |
|---|---|
| Under 40 | Every 5 to 10 years |
| 40 to 54 | Every 2 to 4 years |
| 55 to 64 | Every 1 to 3 years |
| 65 and older | Every 1 to 2 years |
Age 40 is an important milestone. A baseline exam at 40 gives us measurements of your optic nerve and retina to compare against later, which is often how early glaucoma and other changes are caught.
When you need exams more often
- Diabetes: with type 2 diabetes, an exam at diagnosis and at least yearly after that. With type 1 diabetes, starting 5 years after diagnosis and yearly after that. See diabetic eye disease.
- Family history of glaucoma, high eye pressure, high nearsightedness, or Black, Latino or Hispanic ancestry, all of which raise glaucoma risk.
- Medications such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) or long term steroids. See Plaquenil eye screening.
- A diagnosed eye condition, where your doctor will set a schedule for you, often every 3 to 12 months.
- Children who are nearsighted and getting stronger glasses each year.
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Related care to consider
Eye exam FAQs
Is a vision screening the same as an eye exam?
No. A vision screening at school, work or the DMV only checks how well you see. It does not examine the optic nerve or retina, so it can miss glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and other diseases.
Do I need to be dilated?
Dilation gives the best view of the retina and optic nerve. Most comprehensive and medical exams include it. Plan on blurry close vision and light sensitivity for a few hours, and bring sunglasses.
How often should children have eye exams?
Children should have vision screening at pediatric visits and a full eye exam if a screening is failed, if they have symptoms, or if they are nearsighted and their prescription keeps changing.
Let’s take care of your eyes
Call, text or request an appointment online. We verify your insurance before your visit.
3000 Big Dalton Ave, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 ยท Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and some Saturdays