How Often Should You Get an Eye Exam?

Eye exams aren't just about updating your glasses prescription — they're one of the few routine checkups that can catch serious health conditions before you notice any symptoms. So how often should you actually be booking one?

Adults with no vision problems

If you're between 20 and 40 with no history of eye disease and no vision complaints, a comprehensive eye exam every two years is generally sufficient. Your eyes change slowly during this stage of life, and most conditions that develop are caught early with exams on this schedule.

Adults over 40

Once you hit your 40s, annual exams become more important. This is when presbyopia (the gradual loss of near-focusing ability) typically begins, and it's also when the risk for conditions like glaucoma and cataracts starts to climb. An annual exam means changes get caught and corrected quickly.

Contact lens wearers

If you wear contacts, plan on an annual exam regardless of age. Contact lenses sit directly on the eye's surface, so your optometrist needs to regularly check corneal health, tear film, and fit — not just your prescription.

Children

Kids should have their first comprehensive eye exam around age one, another before starting school, and then annually once they're in school. Vision problems in children are often invisible to parents — kids rarely complain about blurry vision because they don't know what "normal" looks like.

Signs you shouldn't wait

Regardless of your regular schedule, book an exam sooner if you notice:

• Sudden blurry vision or double vision
• Frequent headaches, especially after reading or screen time
• Eye pain, redness, or excessive tearing
• Flashes of light or new floaters in your vision

Book your next exam

Our comprehensive eye exams are $80, performed by our licensed optometrist, with direct billing available to most major insurance providers. Book your appointment online or visit our Ajax optical store — serving patients from Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, and across Durham Region.