How often should you get an eye exam? The frequency of eye exams depends on your age, health, and risk factors, with guidelines from major organizations like the American Optometric Association (AOA) and American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) providing clear benchmarks.

Age-Based Guidelines

Major eye health groups offer tailored recommendations to catch issues like glaucoma or macular degeneration early.

Here's the AOA's schedule for adults, which prioritizes regular checks as risks rise with age:

Patient Age (Years) Asymptomatic/Low Risk At-Risk
18–39 Every 2 years Annually or as recommended
40–64 Every 2 years Annually or as recommended
65+ Annually Annually or as recommended
The AAO aligns closely but starts baseline exams at age 40 for low-risk adults, then every 2–4 years. Kids need checks too: infants at 6–12 months, preschoolers at 3–5, and school-age every 1–2 years.

Risk Factors Boost Frequency

Certain conditions demand more visits. Diabetes, high blood pressure, family history of glaucoma, or previous eye injury mean annual exams—or more. African Americans and Hispanics face higher glaucoma risks, so they may need checks every 1–3 years starting earlier.

Recent trends emphasize personalization. A 2025 article notes evolving advice beyond the old "every two years," factoring in modern scans like OCT for retina views.

Why Regular Exams Matter

Eye exams do more than update prescriptions—they spot systemic issues like diabetes early. Imagine catching glaucoma silently stealing side vision before it's gone forever; that's the power of routine checks.

Pro tip: Even with 20/20 vision, don't skip—exams every 5 years suit low- risk 20s–30s per some guides.

Multiple Viewpoints

Guidelines vary slightly:

  • AOA : More frequent for all ages.
  • AAO : Baseline at 40, less often if healthy.
  • Prevent Blindness : 1–2 years over 65.
  • Global differences exist; some countries tie it to healthcare access.

Your move: Chat with an optometrist for a plan fitting you —especially with risks. TL;DR: Adults 18–39: every 2 years (low risk); ramp up annually past 40 or with issues.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.