Overview
Periodic optometric examinations are an important part of routine preventive health care. Many eye and vision conditions present no obvious symptoms. Therefore, individuals are often unaware that a problem exists. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for maintaining good vision and when possible preventing permanent vision loss.
The need for and frequency of optometric examinations varies with age, race, medical history, family history, occupation, and other factors. Individuals with ocular signs or symptoms require prompt examination. In addition, the presence of certain risk factors may necessitate more frequent evaluations based on professional judgment.
Infants and Children
Newborns are typically screened at birth for congenital eye disorders and diseases. In addition, all infants should receive an evaluation for vision problems and eye diseases by an optometrist by six months of age or sooner if abnormalities or risk factors are present. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to assure proper visual development, prevent vision loss due to eye disease, and manage hereditary or congenital eye disorders such as lazy eyes or crossed eyes.
In the absence of specific problems or symptoms, re-examinations at age three and prior to entry into school are recommended. These examinations provide the opportunity to evaluate the level of a child's visual development and can provide early diagnosis and intervention to prevent visual impairment due to various conditions.
At risk: Infants born prematurely, with low birth weight, or whose mother had rubella, venereal disease, AIDS-related infection or a history of substance abuse or other medical problems during pregnancy are at particularly high risk for the development of eye and vision problems. Also, the presence of high refractive error or a family history of eye disease crossed eyes, or congenital eye disorders place infants and children at risk.
School-aged children
Vision may change frequently during the school years. The most common problems are due to the development and progression of nearsightedness. In addition, the existence of eye focusing and/or eye coordination problems may affect school performance. Periodic examinations are recommended.
At risk: Children failing to progress educationally or exhibiting reading and/or learning disabilities should receive an optometric examination as part of a multidisciplinary evaluation.
Adults
During the adult years, the increased visual demands of our technological society bring about the need for regular optometric care. While the incidence of ocular disease is low for young adults, vocational and recreational visual demands are significant. To maintain visual efficiency, productivity, and optimum eye health, periodic examinations are recommended.
Adults, beginning in their early to mid-forties, can experience changes in their ability to see clearly at close distances. This normal aging change in the eye's focusing ability will continue during the forties and fifties. In addition, increases in the incidence of eye health problems occur during these years. Therefore, periodic eye examinations are recommended.
At risk: Individuals diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension, or who have a family history of glaucoma. Those who work in highly visually demanding or eye-hazardous occupations, those taking certain systemic medications with ocular side effects, or those with other health concerns or conditions.
Older Adults
Individuals at the age 61 or older have an increased risk for the development of cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration, and other sight-threatening or visually disabling eye conditions as well as systemic health conditions. Therefore, annual eye examinations are highly recommended.
At risk: Individuals diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension, or who have a family history of glaucoma or cataracts, and those taking systemic medications with ocular side effects or those with other health concerns or conditions.