January 11, 2021 in Blogs

How often should I have routine eye examinations?

How often should I have routine eye examinations?

Well, it depends…the short answer is ask your eye doctor. 🙂

The longer answer takes a bit more time.  A number of organisations involved in vision care have made recommendations.  These are based on expert opinion and also increasingly on the evidence offered by research. 

Recommendations by different organisations may not be quite the same. The Canadian Ophthalmology Society made recommendations for adults in 2006 and can be found here (table summary on page 43).  Sometimes the guidelines can change a bit.  In 2019, Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the periodic eye examination in children aged 0-5 years in Canada was published. These recommendations have come under criticism by some as potentially lowering of the standard of care.  As more research evidence emerges guidelines will be always be fine-tuned. 

Yet, no matter which guideline, routine eye examinations can detect eye disorders early, sometimes before any symptoms occur.  Early detection may help reduce or prevent vision loss.   You or your child’s specific ocular and medical conditions or family history may require more frequent assessments.

Your optometrist at Thunder Bay Eye Care will not only assess your eye health but will also make recommendations on how you can achieve optimally clear and comfortable vision, taking into consideration your work and hobbies, indoors and out and in particular your use of digital devices.

After your appointment your optometrist will consider your specific situation and recommend the best time for your next routine eye exam which can be scheduled before you depart. Of course whenever there is a change or concern, it is important to give us a call and we will see you sooner.

In 2011 the Canadian Association of Optometrists published the “Frequency of Eye Examinations Guideline” and are found in the table below.

Age Group Recommendation*

* Note that any Guidelines are not appropriate for all clinical situations. The decision to follow or not follow the guideline must be made by the health professional on an individual basis, taking into account the specific condition of the patient.

  • Birth to 24 months:- Infants and toddlers should undergo their first eye examination between the ages of 6 and 9 months.
  •  2 to 5 years:- Preschool children should undergo at least one eye examination between the ages of 2 and 5 years.
  • 6 to 19 years:- School children aged 6 to 19 years should undergo an eye examination annually.
  • 20 to 39 years:- Adults aged 20 to 39 years should undergo an eye examination every 2 to 3 years.
  • 40 to 64 years:- Adults aged 40 to 64 years should undergo an eye examination every 2 years.
  • 65 years or older:- Adults aged 65 years or older should undergo an eye examination annually.

If you haven’t scheduled your next routine appointment with your optometrist at Thunder Bay Eye Care please give us a call or book an appointment below. 

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