How Often Should I Get My Eyes Checked?

The short answer: Adults with no known eye disease or significant risk factors should have a comprehensive eye exam every two years from ages 18-39, then annually from age 40 onward. Many people need more frequent exams based on specific risk factors.

This is a question that Eye Health and Vision Care addresses across all age groups and clinical situations. Below is a complete breakdown.

By Age Group

Children (birth to 17):

Infancy: Screening within the first year of life; earlier if concerns about alignment or visual attention
Preschool (3-5 years): Comprehensive exam before kindergarten entry — critical for detecting amblyopia (“lazy eye”) within the treatable developmental window
School age (6-17): Annually if myopic, if wearing glasses or contacts, or if there are any visual concerns. Every two years if no refractive error and no risk factors.

Adults 18-39:

Every two years if no risk factors and no corrective lenses
Annually if you wear glasses or contact lenses (contact lens prescriptions require annual renewal in most states and benefit from annual ocular surface monitoring)

Adults 40-59:

Annually. Presbyopia begins in this decade. Glaucoma risk increases. Early cataract development may begin. Annual monitoring is appropriate for everyone in this age group.

Adults 60 and older:

Annually. Age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma all increase in prevalence. Dilated fundus examination is particularly important.

If You Have Specific Risk Factors

Certain conditions warrant more frequent exams regardless of age:

Diabetes: Annual dilated eye exam at minimum. More frequent if diabetic retinopathy is already present or if control is poor.

Glaucoma suspect or established glaucoma: Every 6-12 months, depending on disease status and treatment.

Family history of glaucoma: Annually from age 40 (or earlier if additional risk factors are present).

High myopia (above -6.00 D): Annually to monitor peripheral retina for tearing or lattice degeneration, which carries elevated detachment risk.

Taking medications known to affect the eyes: Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) requires baseline retinal examination and then annual monitoring after 5 years of use.

Prior eye surgery (including LASIK): Annually; more frequent if any concerns about post-operative corneal stability.

Contact Lens Wearers

Contact lens wearers need annual comprehensive exams regardless of age, for several reasons:

Contact lens prescriptions typically expire annually by regulation
Annual evaluation of the corneal surface detects hypoxia-related changes (neovascularization, epitheliopathy) before they become significant
Meibomian gland health should be monitored, as contact lens wear is associated with long-term meibomian gland dropout

If you wear contacts and are considering LASIK, your annual exam records provide the prescription stability history surgeons need.

What Counts as a “Real” Eye Exam?

The exam that matters is a comprehensive dilated eye exam — not a vision screening at school or the DMV, and not a quick check at an optometrist chain focused on glasses sales in fifteen minutes.

A complete exam should include:

Best-corrected and uncorrected visual acuity
Refraction
Intraocular pressure measurement
Slit lamp examination of anterior segment
Dilated fundus examination of the retina, optic nerve, and vitreous

Without dilation, significant retinal and optic nerve pathology can go undetected. For full detail on what each component assesses, see annual eye exams: why regular checkups matter.

Can I Go Longer If My Vision Seems Fine?

This is the most common misconception about eye care. Many serious eye conditions — glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, early cataracts — cause no noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Vision can feel normal until significant, sometimes irreversible damage has occurred.

An eye exam does not just update your prescription. It is a screening event for conditions that, if caught early, can be managed to preserve long-term vision. If caught late, many cannot.