The eyes are one of the most special organs of the body. Eyes adapt to low light by dilating the pupil to allow more light to enter, while in bright sunlight, they shrink the pupil to reduce the amount of light entering the eye.
The eyes are one of the organs constantly exposed to the environment and are susceptible to all kinds of microbes and dust present. So the chances of infection are pretty high, and because of this, eyes require special care.
Having a regular check-up for eyes is very important to know if you have myopia, glaucoma, cataract, or macular degeneration. To get a complete eye check-up, you can visit an ophthalmologist in Jacksonville, FL.
Before starting with how often the patient should get their eye checked, it is essential to know when to have a check-up. Below we have listed a few signs.
Signs:
- If the eyes are red, dry, or itchy, the patient should not neglect them and should go for a test.
- If the patient is above 50 and has a family history of glaucoma or diabetes, the patient should get a check-up every six months.
- If the patient has difficulty driving in the dark.
- Suppose the patient experiences eye strain while reading a book or a bad headache while working on a laptop. This can be an early sign to catch.
These are a few common signs which should not be neglected. A severe sign to note here is to get a check-up if you notice changes in vision after head trauma.
How often should a person get an eye check-up?
Different age groups have various conditions for vision disturbances. To discuss this topic briefly, we have mentioned the number of times a person should get their vision tested based on their age.
- Children and adults below the age of 20: if no signs of vision disturbances are noticed, they should have a check-up every two years. In case a patient already wears specs, then they should get an eye check-up every six months. As in the early years of life, the number of spectacles can vary a lot. If you are using contact lenses, you can go to contact lenses UK to check if you need to update your contact lens prescription.
- Ages between 20-39: people in this group should get an eye check-up every 2-3 years. In these years of life, a patient may experience rapid vision loss. Patients with diabetes, vision defects, or those who have had eye surgery should get an eye check more frequently.
- Age between 40-64: Adults may experience hardening the eye lens, loss of vision, difficulty accommodating, or presbyopia. It is advised to have a complete eye check-up once every 1-2 years.
- Age above 65: people in this age are advised to have a complete eye check-up once every year. Risk factors are more significant in older adults.
If you have been observing difficulties with accommodation or strain while trying to focus, then you should consider taking up an eye check-up.