Guide · frequency
How often should I have an eye test?
Every two years is the standard answer and it’s right for most people. The exceptions matter more than the rule.
By age
| How often | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| Children | Every year | Eyes are growing; prescriptions change fast; lazy eye is treatable only in childhood |
| 16–39 | Every two years | Stable eyes, low disease risk |
| 40–69 | Every two years, yearly if any risk factor | Glaucoma risk starts to climb; presbyopia arrives |
| 70+ | Every year | Cataract, macular and glaucoma risk all rise |
Every year, whatever your age, if
You have diabetes · glaucoma runs in your family · you wear contact lenses · your prescription is high · you’ve been told you’re at risk of anything · you’ve had eye surgery.
Don’t wait for the recall if
Vision changes — even if it seems small. New floaters or flashes. Headaches with screen work. A child sitting closer to things. Eyes that hurt, water or go red for more than a few days. Any of these is a reason to book now, not at the next two-year mark. Urgent symptoms →
Why we say two years and not one
Because for a healthy adult under seventy there’s very little that changes in a year, and we’d rather you trusted the recall than felt hurried back. When we say “come back in a year”, it’s because something’s worth watching, and we’ll tell you what.
The short version
- Most adults: every two years
- Children, over-70s, diabetics, glaucoma in the family, contact lens wearers: every year
- Any change in vision, floaters or flashes: now, not at the next recall