When Should I see an Eye Physician ?

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Routine Visit Recommendations from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Age based Recommendations

Infants

Screening newborn’s eyes is done in the nursery.

By 6 months of age, infants’ eyes should be screened by a health care professional (Eye Physician, primary care provider, family physician, pediatrician or other trained screener)

A comprehensive eye examination should be performed by an Eye Physician if there are concerns by the initial screen.

Before Age 5

Screened between ages 3 and 5 by an eye care professional, physician or

trained screened for conditions such as:

• Strabismus (crossed eyes)

• Amblyopia (lazy eye)

• Ptosis (dropping of the upper eyelid)

• Refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism)

A comprehensive eye examination should be performed by an Eye Physician if there are concerns by the initial screen.

Age 3 to 19

Screening every 1 to 2 years during regular check-up appointments.

A comprehensive eye examination should be performed by an Eye Physician if there are concerns by the initial screen.

Age 20 to Age 39

Complete eye exam by an Eye Physician at least once between the ages of 20 and 29 and at least twice between the ages of 30 and 39.

Ages 40 to 64

A comprehensive eye evaluation with an Eye Physician every 2 to 4 years.

65 and Older

Seniors 65 and older should have comprehensive eye evaluations by their Eye Physician every 1 to 2 years (this age group is high risk for cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration).

Remember:

Routine visits to an Eye Physician may save vision and prevent blindness.

An Eye Physician  is an ophthalmologist – a medical doctor who was specially trained to provide the full spectrum of eye care, from simple prescribing glasses and performing basic medical evaluations to complex medical treatments and delicate eye surgeries.

Routine early detection of treatable eye problems is the best way to take care of your vision throughout your life. For certain patients at greater risk, more frequent exams are required.

Diabetes

Damage to the eye is the most feared complication of diabetes. Diabetes is the most common cause of blindness in the U.S. among younger individuals, and most of this loss can be avoided with better control and through early detection of eye damage.

Unless a dilated eye exam is done, most people are unaware that they have eye damage. Retina damage is usually discovered during a routine exam of the retina. Anyone who's had IDDM (type-1) for 5 years or more and everyone with NIDDM (type-2) should have this detailed eye exam done at least yearly or as recommended by your Eye Physician.

African American over age 40

Glaucoma occurs about five times more often in African-Americans, and blindness from glaucoma is about six times more common. In addition to this higher frequency, glaucoma often occurs earlier in life in African-Americans—on average, about 10 years earlier than in other ethnic populations.

The reasons for the higher rate of glaucoma among African-Americans are still unknown. However, researchers are becoming more and more certain that African-Americans are genetically more likely to be susceptible to glaucoma, making early detection and treatment all the more important. For example, there may be a greater susceptibility to optic nerve damage, which causes vision loss, for African-Americans with glaucoma.

A family history of eye problems

Genetic factors play a role in many kinds of eye diseases. Many cases of vision loss among infants are caused by inherited eye diseases such as congenital glaucoma, cataract, retinal degeneration, and optic atrophy.

In adults, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration are two of the leading causes of blindness, and both appear to have a familiar disposition.  

A personal history of eye injury that required medical or surgical care

History of an eye trauma increase future risks of glaucoma. Eye injury may increase the risk of losing vision if further injury occurs. Routine follow up by Eye Physician is important to detect and treat long term consequences of eye injury.

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See an Eye Physician immediately for:

1. Visual changes or pain.

2. Flashes of light.

3. Seeing spots or ghost like images.

4. Dark spot appears in vision.

5. Lines and edges appear distorted or wavy.

6. Dry eyes with itching and burning.