| BEFORE
AGE 5
Toddlers should be screened for common
childhood eye problems, such as strabismus
(crossed eyes) and amblyopia
(lazy eye), as well as refractive errors such as nearsightedness
and farsightedness. Children should be screened younger than
age 5 if there is a family history of childhood vision problems, or
if they appear to have wandering or crossed eyes.
PUBERTY TO AGE 39
Most young people have healthy eyes. However, you should see
an Eye M.D. if you experience any eye problems such as visual
changes, pain, flashes of light, seeing spots or
ghost-like images, if lines and edges appear distorted or wavy,
a dark spot appears in you central vision, excessive tearing, dry eyes
with itching or burning, or if you sustain an injury to the eye.
One of the most common causes of vision loss in children
and young adults is accidental eye injury. Common causes of vision-threatening
eye injury include:
- Sports-related accidents
- Work-related accidents
- Wood or metal shop debris
- Debris from yard work
- Chemical splashes from household cleaners
- Battery acid burns from jump-started vehicles
Make sure to protect yourself from accidental eye injury by using the
appropriate eye protection. Your Eye M.D. can recommend the right protection
for your activities.
AGES 40 TO 65
Schedule an exam every two to four years. Some people may
be at higher risk for eye-related diseases and will need to see an Eye
M.D. more often than recommeded above. People at risk may include:
- African Americans over age 40
- People with diabetes
- Those with family history of eye problems
- Those with a history of eye injury or other problems
If you or a family member fall into any of these
categories, check with your Eye M.D. to find out how often to have
an eye exam.
OVER AGE 65
Older adults should be examined at least every one to two years
for cataracts,
glaucoma, macular degeneration and other eye conditions.
|
|
Most
people think of eye problems as something
that happens to older people. While many eye conditions affect
older people most often, eye conditions and diseases that affect
vision can strike at any time in your life, from newborn to old
age. And many of the conditions that affect us as we grow older
actually start earlier in life.
Protect your - and your family's - good vision
with thorough exams at appropriate times. |
