How often should you visit the eye doctor?

Getting an eye exam can be a stressful situation.  

You need to call your eye doctor, make an appointment, probably take time off work or school, remember the appointment, travel to the office, go through the various pokes and prods of your doctor, possibly dodge unnecessary upselling, and lastly get your prescription. It’s a whole series of events most people don’t have the time or energy to deal with. Especially when they are out of contacts and their back up glasses just broke.   

Which is why we’re here to help you stay two steps ahead.  

Do I need a yearly eye exam? 

The long answer is that it depends. For most healthy people, you don’t need an eye exam every year. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends getting an exam based on your medical conditions and age. That can be as little as one to two times in your twenties and thirties, a comprehensive exam at 40, and then yearly exams after 65. It’s best to check with your eye care professional to determine how often you need a comprehensive exam. 

However, there are exceptions. If you have a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, or other eye disease it’s best to visit an eye doctor for preventative eye exams.  

You’ll also want to visit an eye doctor every one to two years if you wear contacts or glasses. This is to make sure your prescription is still working and to check for any issues with your vision correction of choice.  

What if my prescription changed?

You may also consider going in for an eye exam if you believe your prescription has changed. There are many signs to watch out for that might indicate that your prescription might need to be updated. Even if your prescription is perfect, the specific lens you were prescribed may be giving you trouble.  

If you experience any of the following symptoms, we’d always recommend booking an appointment to consult with an eye doctor.  

• Increased blurriness or inability to focus  
• Burning, itching, or discomfort 
• Headaches or nausea 
• Increased light sensitivity 

Those are very common symptoms of a mismatched prescription. Whether that requires updating the parameters of your prescription to better match what your vision needs or simply swapping you into another brand of contacts, an eye doctor can best help you assess your needs.  

Are there any other options?

Yes! If you don’t have a history of eye related to health problems and are happy with your current prescription, then you may be eligible for our ExpressExam. It’s a super-simple way to renew your contact lens prescription online. While it is not a comprehensive eye exam, it is a vision exam that lets you quickly assess whether it’s time for a prescription change.   

There are some eligibility requirements that must be met before the exam, which you can learn more about on our site. After you’ve finished the exam, a board-certified ophthalmologist will review your results and issue you a prescription. You can then take that renewed prescription and get contacts anywhere in the US. You’ll never run out of contacts again.