Eye tests – how often
Most eye care experts (including Marelise Bester Optometrists) recommend that you have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years, depending on your age, risk factors and whether you currently wear corrective lenses.
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- Pediatric and adults
Recommended Eye Examination Frequency for Pediatric Patients and Adults
Children considered to be at risk for the development of eye and vision problems may need additional testing or more frequent re-evaluation. Factors placing an infant, toddler, or child at significant risk for visual impairment include:
- Prematurity, low birth weight, oxygen at birth, grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage
- Family history of retinoblastoma, congenital cataracts, or metabolic or genetic disease
- Infection of mother during pregnancy (e.g., rubella, toxoplasmosis, venereal disease, herpes, cytomegalovirus, or AIDS)
- Difficult or assisted labor, which may be associated with fetal distress or low Apgar scores
- High refractive error
- Strabismus
- Anisometropia
- Known or suspected central nervous system dysfunction evidenced by developmental delay, cerebral palsy, dysmorphic features, seizures, or hydrocephalus
Patients (adults) at risk include those:
- with diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of ocular disease (e.g. glaucoma, macular degeneration)
- working in occupations that are highly demanding visually or eye hazardous
- taking prescription or nonprescription drugs with ocular side effects
- wearing contact lenses
- who have had eye surgery
- with other health concerns or conditions.
