When should I schedule my child’s first eye exam?

It is very important for children to have their eyes evaluated at a young age. We recommend vision exams for those as young as 6 months of age. Using a special device called a retinoscope, the doctor can detect whether there is a need for prescription glasses. If a child is left uncorrected for an extended period of time they can develop a condition called amblyopia in which their vision is permanently reduced.

At EYES Optometry, we participate in the InfantSEE program which allows a free vision exam for children 6 months to 1 year of age.

How often should I have an eye exam?

We highly recommend annual eye exams to monitor for both vision and health changes. With a microscope the doctor is able to evaluate not only the health of your eyes, but also your body’s health. Diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis are just a few of the conditions frequently first seen by an exam with an optometrist.

What is the purpose of a dilated exam?

The doctor uses eye drops to dilate your eyes to get a better view of the retina through a larger pupil. Without dilation there are many ocular conditions, some vision or eye threatening, that can be missed. That is why we at EYES Optometry recommend frequent dilated eye exams for all patients. The earlier we are able to detect eye disease the better our chances are of preventing permanent vision loss.