The eyes not only provide visual images of the world, but they may also give clues to other health conditions. Eye exams allow eye care professionals to ensure the best possible vision and eye health. If an eye doctor looks in the eye and notes signs of a systemic disease or condition, he will discuss the findings with the patient and her primary health provider. As a result, keeping scheduled appointments for all necessary eye exams will help maintain vision and overall health.
Routine Exam
Routine eye exams, also known as full or complete eye exams, check vision and overall eye health. For this type of exam, the doctor will put drops in both eyes to dilate the pupils for a close examination of the back of the eye. Children should have at least one eye exam by age 3, and an exam every one to two years until age 19, says The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In early adulthood, an exam every few years will suffice, unless an eye doctor recommends specific intervals based on family history and eye health. After age 40, if a person has no signs of eye disease or other health conditions, he should see an eye care professional every two years. People who have conditions such as diabetes or glaucoma will have full eye exams more often to monitor eye health.
Contact Lens Exam
Contact lens wearers require annual evaluation of contact lenses. This ensures that the lenses fit well and have not damaged the surface of the eye. Some doctors refer to these appointments as contact lens "fitting" exams. The doctor will examine the eye with the lens in place and discuss problems or changes. If the contact lenses cause blurry vision, the doctor may check for an updated prescription. For new contact lens wearers, the doctor will schedule a few short appointments. The contact lens fitting may be combined with a routine eye exam, or a separate visit. The doctor will schedule a set time to train the new wearer in how to insert, remove and care for the lenses. After the person has a few weeks to wear the lenses, the doctor will schedule her back to determine how well the contacts work and if any lens change is necessary.
Short Exam
Some types of eye conditions do not require a complete eye examination. These follow-up appointments typically monitor the treatment of infections, eye surgeries or to go over test results. People with glaucoma, an eye pressure condition that can result in vision loss, may require frequent short visits to monitor whether a glaucoma medication has effectively lowered the eye pressure. In some cases, people may have a short office visit to remove a foreign body from the eye.
