Ask the Optometrist: When Should I Get My Eyes Checked? 

Your eyes, like any other organ in your body, benefit from regular, comprehensive check-ups. It’s always better to catch potential issues early rather than waiting until something breaks and then having to fix it. 

So, what are the common signs that indicate you should get your eyes checked? We turned to Dr. Andrew Gurwood, chief of Primary Care Services at The Eye Institute, for his expert recommendations. 

Q: When should I get my eyes checked? 

A: Routine eye care is typically age dependent with younger patients requiring routine eye care at one to two year intervals and older patients requiring care at intervals from six to 12 months. 

Since blood vessels inside the eye, along with its tissues are susceptible to systemic diseases, examining the eyes could provide valuable clues regarding systemic health issues. Examples of where an eye exam could aid in better understanding the status of a systemic disease include diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, and anemia. All these diseases may have "eye signs" like diabetic retinopathy, permitting a better understanding of treatment successes or progression.  

Finally, anytime your vision changes suddenly isn’t as good as it used to be, or your eye becomes red or hurts, an examination is the best way to uncover the source of the problem. Some eye diseases like glaucoma or vision loss from stroke are not associated with any pain, so an examination by a skilled optometrist at The Eye Institute is what is required to detect them. Call The Eye Institute at 215.276.6111 to schedule your appointment today.