The Eye Clinic4 min read
It's an easy thing to put off, especially when your sight seems fine. But some of the most important eye conditions are silent in their early stages, so regular checks matter more than most people realise. Here's a sensible guide.
A general rule of thumb
For most healthy adults, an eye test every two years is a reasonable default. If you wear glasses or contacts, or you're over 65, once a year is usually wiser — prescriptions and eye health can change more quickly.
Children should have their eyes checked before they start school, and again if there's any sign of a problem, as early treatment makes a real difference.
When you may need checks more often
Some people should be seen more regularly. That includes anyone with diabetes, a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration, high short-sightedness, or an existing eye condition being monitored.
If you fall into one of those groups, your optometrist or specialist will usually recommend a schedule tailored to you — often yearly or more frequently.
Don't wait for symptoms
The tricky part is that conditions like glaucoma and early diabetic eye disease often cause no symptoms at all until damage is done. A routine check can pick them up early, when they're far easier to manage — which is the whole point of not waiting for something to feel wrong.
Between scheduled tests, some changes still shouldn't wait: a sudden change in vision, a shower of new floaters or flashes, a shadow across your sight, or a red and painful eye should be seen promptly.
Optometrist or specialist?
For routine tests, your optometrist is the right place to start. If they pick up something that needs specialist diagnosis or treatment, they'll refer you to an ophthalmologist like Dr Leong — and you can also contact us directly on 04 470 7663.