Why wait until your sight gets worse and starts to disrupt your daily activities when you can be proactive about it? Getting a prescription eye exam is your best bet at doing so. That’s why it is recommended to have one regularly. This helps you detect eye issues and check the progress of the current one. The big question is: how often should you get a prescription eye exam?

Taking a look at your current eyewear is an essential part of your eye exam with the optometrist. Now, for anyone aged 6 and above, an annual eye exam is imperative. Here, an optometrist will check the eyes for issues such as glaucoma and refractive errors. It’s also important to have this annual eye exam because your eye doctor can confirm the accuracy of your current prescription. 

Reasons why you should get a prescription eye exam

Besides the fact that you need to see the optometrist once a year if you have an existing prescription, here are other reasons to do so:

  • If you have been squinting regularly.
  •  If you have noticed that your vision is blurry.
  • If you must close an eye to look at your phone, watch television or read a book.

How to get an eye prescription from the optometrist

If you need contact lenses or glasses, the process is quite easy everywhere. To get started, book an appointment for an eye exam with an eye clinic or optical store near you. You would only get your prescription when you have carried out these eye tests: 

  • Pupil test: The doctor will analyze what happens to your pupils when a light is shone on them. This test tells if your pupils and brains are functioning together.
  • Vision test: Here, you have to identify numbers or letters on an eye chart that is placed 20 feet from your face. It helps to check for refractive errors and see if you need a correction. 
  • Other tests include the eye movement test, eye pressure test, slit lamp exam, and dilated pupillary exam.

In all, note that you should get an eye prescription exam once a year. All you need to do is schedule an exam with an optometrist, take the test and the eye doctor will inform you if you have had any changes in your sight and whether you need new glasses or contacts.