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How often should you get an eye exam?

It depends on your age, vision, and overall eye health. Here’s a general guideline:

- Adults (40–64): Every 2 years, or more frequently if you have risk factors (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, family history of eye disease).

- Adults 65+: Every year, as age-related eye conditions (e.g., cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration) become more common.

The risk of eye disease increases after age 40. This makes annual eye exams even more important for older patients. Early detection is key to preventing and treating eye health problems. In fact, 80% of global visual impairment is avoidable if prevented or corrected with proper treatment.

A typical eye exam checks your vision and the health of the eye itself. The Snellen eye chart is the first and most basic way to measure your visual acuity, which is how clearly you can see.

If your visual acuity is not 20/20 (what’s considered “good” or “average” vision), your eye doctor will test for common eye conditions. Common refractive errors include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.

Here are some simple steps you can take each day to help care for your eyes:

INVEST IN QUALITY SUNGLASSES. Everyone in your family, including young kids, should wear sunglasses with polarized lenses. These offer UV protection for your eyes all year long — even in the shade and during winter.

WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES WHEN NEEDED. Eye injuries from sports, yardwork, home repair and high-risk work environments can be prevented by up to 90% with eye safety goggles.

BE SMART WITH DIGITAL SCREENS. Between computers, smartphones, tablets and TVs, your eyes are constantly exposed to screens. Combat computer vision syndrome (CVS) by considering anti-reflective and blue-light-filtering lenses for your eyewear. You should also take frequent breaks during screen time to allow your eyes to rest.

EAT WELL. Eating well has so many benefits, including maintaining healthy eyes. Make sure your diet includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and lots of water.

KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR EYES. Touching your eyes frequently will expose them to bacteria and germs. Plus, rubbing too hard can irritate your eyes further, or even break a blood vessel.

BE MINDFUL WHEN USING EYE DROPS. Contacts, contact solution and eye drops all expire, so check the expiration dates before use. You should also avoid making redness-reducing drops part of your daily routine.

These drops work by shrinking your blood vessels and reducing blood flow to your cornea, which robs the eye of oxygen. Long-term use can cause more redness as your eyes get used to the drops. Instead, talk to your optometrist about the best solution for dry, itchy or red eyes.

TAKE OUT YOUR CONTACTS AT BEDTIME. Even if your contact lenses are approved for overnight wear, it’s better for your eyes to avoid sleeping in them. Sleeping without contacts allows your eyes to breathe and eliminates the opportunity for bacteria to grow on your contacts.

REMOVE MAKEUP. Eye makeup can clog important glands around your eyes and irritate your skin. Take a few minutes each night to carefully remove your makeup before going to bed.