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Eye Examinations
When are eye examinations necessary?
During an eye exam, an eye doctor reviews your medical history and completes a series of tests to determine the health of your eyes. The information from an eye exam may lead to medical procedures or prescriptions. Eye examinations should take place periodically as follows:
| by age 4 | All children should have their eyes checked by age four. If there is family history of childhood vision problems, or if the child has a wandering, crossed, or other eye problem, his/her eyes should be checked earlier. |
| before the age of 20 | as recommended by a pediatrician or other physician |
| between 20 to 40 years old | every 5 years, unless you experience any problems such as visual changes, pain, flashes of light, new floaters, or tearing, or if you sustain an injury to the eye. |
| between 40 to 64 years old | every 2 to 4 years |
| over 65 years old | every 1 to 2 years |
African-Americans are at greater risk for glaucoma, and should have eye examinations every 3 to 5 years before the age of 40, and every 2 years after age 40.
Persons with diabetes are at risk for several eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts, and should have eye examinations every year.
