Table of Contents
When is the last time you had your eyes checked? If it’s been over a year, it may be a good idea to read on.
In just 12 months, subtle changes in your vision could quietly happen. Maybe you’re squinting a bit more at your phone, or those evening headaches aren’t just from a long day at work.
A vision checkup takes less than an hour of your time, and could be one of the most important health-related appointments you make in 2025.
Why Schedule an Annual Eye Health Exam?
Do you really need your eyes checked once a year? It depends. Going by the American Optometric Association’s recommendations, you should adjust the frequency of your visits to the optometrist based on your age and unique risks:
- If you’re 18 to 64 with low to moderate risks, it’s fine to see an optometrist once every two years.
- For those over 65 or at risk of developing eye health problems, it’s best not to wait more than 12 months between appointments.
Remember that symptoms can progress fast. In most cases, catching them early means instantly improving comfort and preventing complications.
Not having any symptoms is no reason to skip your annual eye health exam. Many vision and health conditions that indirectly affect the eyes can stay silent for years and progress quickly.
How likely is it that your optometrist will catch one of these conditions? Let’s look at the numbers:
- Refractive errors (like myopia, farsightedness, or presbyopia) affect 150 million Americans. You could be one of them, especially with aging and screen time making refractive errors more common.
- An optometrist can spot early signs of high blood pressure. A worrying 11 million Americans have undiagnosed high blood pressure, making frequent eye exams a must.
- The same is true of diabetes: Experts believe that as many as 9.7 million American adults could have diabetes and not know it. It’s something your optometrist can detect during a dilated eye exam.
What to Expect During an Eye Health Exam
There is much more to a comprehensive vision checkup than reading blurry letters and numbers on a chart! Thanks to modern technology, your optometrist has a wide range of tools at their fingertips to dig deep and get a full picture of your vision health.
An annual eye health exam is different from a simple vision screening. It typically includes a group of tests, which can vary based on your unique risks:
- A slit lamp exam is like looking at your eyes under a microscope, revealing any issues or changes to the eye structure. If more visibility is needed, your optometrist might use a dilated eye exam to inspect the back of your eyes.
- Optometrists often perform visual field tests to check for blind spots and assess how healthy your peripheral vision is.
- You’ll likely go through the traditional visual acuity test, which consists of reading letters and numbers on a chart. It might not be high-tech, but it’s still a great tool for diagnosing refractive errors and narrowing down your ideal prescription.
- Lastly, your optometrist might use corneal topography to create a digital 3D map of your cornea. Besides being helpful for fitting contacts, this test can also reveal changes to the cornea.
Why Annual Checkups Matter Now More Than Ever
Simply put, an eye exam is the best way to catch issues early, giving you plenty of time to address them before complications start.
Are there any other reasons to schedule an annual eye exam? Here’s one: Eye health problems are on the rise. Experts agree that aging makes you more likely to suffer from refractive errors, cataracts, or age-related macular degeneration.
Also, screen time is causing eye strain and contributing to poor eye health — and it’s affecting every age group. Anyone who primarily works on a computer should be proactive about vision care.
Optometrists are getting better at detecting a wide range of health issues early, thanks to technology. Gone are the days when optometrists would just administer a simple visual acuity test on a chart. Your annual eye exam will now include a battery of tech-enhanced tests that can spot serious health issues, including glaucoma, cataracts, AMD, high cholesterol, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer.
Is a Yearly Eye Exam Enough?
Remember two things:
- An eye exam can spot early signs of serious health conditions, but doesn’t replace regular checkups with your general practitioner.
- Secondly, getting your eyes checked once every year or every two years is a good strategy. However, you should take care of your eye health year-round.
Simple habits can make a world of difference when it comes to eye health. For instance:
- Be mindful of how your eyes feel throughout the day. Take breaks from screens and create an eye-friendly environment when working.
- There is a strong link between nutrition and eye health. In fact, antioxidants can prevent a number of eye health problems.
- Exercise is important for a healthy body. Why not exercise your eyes as well? Five to ten minutes a day is all it takes to practice eye yoga and boost your eye health!
Preparing for Your Eye Exam
Preparing for your eye exam doesn’t have to be hard. Use this checklist to make sure you have everything you need:
- Bring your glasses or contacts and a list of any medications you are currently taking.
- Write down any questions you might have.
- Some details about your family’s health history can also be helpful.
Next, you should look for a local optometrist accepting new patients. It’s generally a good idea to call and ask about pricing to better understand what the exam will cost.
Are you worried about out-of-pocket costs? Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma is here to help. With flexible pre-paid plans accepted by multiple optometrists in your community, eye exams and other vision-related services are more accessible than ever. Learn more about our pre-paid vision plans and explore potential savings before scheduling your annual eye exam!
Summary: When was the last time you saw an optometrist? Our latest blog post explores the many benefits of regularly scheduling a comprehensive eye exam.
