When do you need an eye exam? 5 signs it’s time
How often should you get your eyes checked? Ask your eye doctor.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends annual eye exams, but the best person to ask is the optometrist or ophthalmologist who examines your eyes regularly. If you don’t get an eye exam every year, your eyes will usually tell you when they need help.
If you find yourself rubbing your eyes a lot or holding things as far from (or as close to) your face as possible to see them clearly, it’s probably time to see your eye doctor.
Losing the ability to focus on the fine print happens to the best of us. Presbyopia occurs with age, as the lens inside the eye loses flexibility. But it’s also possible you have latent vision issues that are getting worse.
“Many adults were given glasses when they were younger and figured, ‘Ah, it worked just as well without them.’ So, they never wore them,” says Sandra Block, chair of the World Council of Optometry’s public health committee.
“When they hit 40, they have a real problem reading,” she says. “They were farsighted to begin with and now, not only are they farsighted, they have no accommodative systems so they can’t see clearly up close either.”
Here are five signs you need an eye exam:
