Key Takeaways
- Adults aged 20 to 39 should book an eye exam every 2–3 years.
- Adults aged 40 to 64 should book an eye exam every 2 years.
- Adults 65 and older should book an eye exam every year.
- Children should have a baseline exam between 6 and 9 months, another between ages 2 and 5, then annual exams from age 6 into adulthood.
- Diabetes, high myopia, and other vision conditions can call for more frequent exams.
- Blurry road signs, difficulty reading, and uncomfortable glasses are reasons to book sooner.
- Many eye conditions show no early symptoms, so regular visits matter.
- Imaging with OPTOS, OCT, and visual field testing gives a fuller picture of your eye health.
How Often Eye Exams Are Recommended in Canada
Our team at Waterdown Optometric Clinic understands that many people wait a long time between exams, often because nothing feels wrong. However, regular exams are a crucial part of supporting your eye health.
How often you should come in shifts as you age. Adults between 20 and 39 are generally advised to have an eye exam every 2 to 3 years. From 40 to 64, that moves to every 2 years, as this is the stretch when reading vision typically starts to change. Once you reach 65, an annual exam is recommended.
Children follow a different schedule. The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends a comprehensive exam between 6 and 9 months of age to establish a baseline, another comprehensive exam between the ages of 2 and 5 as they grow and develop, and annual comprehensive exams from age 6 onward until adulthood.
These timelines are a starting point. Kids grow quickly and their vision can change between school years, which is why yearly visits are recommended until 19. For adults 65+, yearly exams help track small changes that build slowly over time.
Why Timelines Shift from Person to Person
Your exam schedule isn’t set in stone. Prescription strength, health history, and daily habits all play a role in how often you should come in. Someone who drives long hours and works on screens all day may need a different rhythm than someone who rarely wears glasses.
Patients with diabetes, high myopia, or other vision conditions should be examined more frequently than the general guidelines suggest. We’ll work with you and your unique needs to determine the best exam schedule for your eyes.
A Waterdown optometrist can set a schedule that fits your life rather than a general rule.
Signs You Should Book Sooner
Waiting for your next scheduled visit doesn’t always make sense. You should pay your optometrist a visit if you notice any of the following:
- Road signs look blurry, or you find yourself squinting to read them
- Reading feels harder, and you hold your phone or book farther away
- Your current glasses feel off, uncomfortable, or just not quite right
Some symptoms require more urgent attention. New floaters, flashes of light, sudden or dramatic changes in vision, eye pain, or unusual light sensitivity can sometimes signal an ocular emergency. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your optometrist promptly so you can be assessed as soon as possible, ideally the same day or within a day or two depending on the severity of your symptoms.
When Your Prescription Has Expired
An old prescription may no longer match what your eyes need today. Ordering new glasses or contacts from old measurements might not address your vision needs—which is why optometrists can’t accept outdated prescriptions. You should book your eye exam first, then shop.
Why Regular Eye Exams Matter for Your Health
An eye exam looks at more than how sharply you see. It gives your eye doctor an early look at conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration, often before you notice anything different.
That’s the part people miss. Many eye conditions show no early symptoms at all, so feeling fine isn’t proof that your eyes are healthy. Your eyes can also reveal changes linked to diabetes and blood pressure, which makes a routine visit useful beyond just determining your prescription.
Person holding a smartphone with a blank screen in one hand and removed tortoiseshell glasses in the other, in a living room by a window.
Who May Need More Frequent Visits
Some people benefit from checking in with their optometrist every year. People with diabetes fall into this group, as do people with high myopia or other vision conditions. Adults 65 and older are already on a yearly schedule, and a family history of eye disease is worth mentioning to your optometrist so we can factor it into your exam timing.
What Happens During an Eye Exam at Our Clinic
The visit starts with a conversation. Our team asks about your health history and the way you spend your days, from screen time to driving to weekend hobbies.
From there, vision testing checks how clearly you see and whether your prescription needs updating. Imaging with OPTOS, OCT, and visual field testing rounds out the picture, giving us a detailed look at the health of your eyes. We’ll make sure to explain your results in plain language before you leave.
What to Bring with You
A little prep makes the appointment smoother. Bring your current glasses or contacts, your insurance details, and any past prescription you have on hand.
It also helps to jot down a few notes about your screen time, your commute, and the hobbies you care about. Those details shape our recommendations.
How to Care for Your Eyes Between Visits
Small habits can carry you between appointments. The 20-20-20 rule is an easy one—take a break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. UV-blocking sunglasses are important year-round, while sports eyewear protects kids on the field and the court.
If you wear contacts, clean hands and proper lens habits go a long way.
Lens Options Worth a Conversation
Once you hit your 40s, digital progressives are worth asking about. Durable coatings backed by good warranties and task-specific glasses for work or hobbies can also make your day noticeably easier. Our optical team at Waterdown Optometric Clinic can walk you through what fits your routine, and our lenses are edged on site with our clinic’s lens edger.
Ready to find out what your eyes need next? Book your exam with Waterdown Optometric Clinic today.
