The Basics
If you are age 65 or older, have your eyes checked every 1–2 years. People with diabetes should have their eyes checked more often.
Getting an Eye Exam
During the exam, the doctor will put drops in your eyes to enlarge (or dilate) your pupils. This is called a dilated eye exam. It is the only way to find some types of eye diseases.
There are 2 types of doctors that can perform an eye exam:
- Optometrists
- Ophthalmologists
Am I at Risk for Eye Disease?
You may be at high risk for eye disease if you:
- Are age 65 or older
- Are African-American and over age 40
- Have diabetes
- Have a family member with diabetes or eye disease
See an eye doctor right away if your vision or your eyes suddenly change. Check out these signs of eye problems
to learn more.
The Benefits
Getting regular dilated eye exams is the best way to protect your vision. Regular eye exams help your doctor find eye problems early, when they can be easily treated.
Protect Your Eyes From Serious Problems
Your vision changes as you get older. Some changes are more serious than others. Over time, eye diseases like glaucoma can lead to vision loss and blindness.
Other common eye problems in older adults include:
Take Action!
There are things you can do to protect your vision. Start by getting regular eye exams so you can find problems early.
Schedule an Eye Exam
Ask your doctor or health center for the name of a local eye care professional. Read these tips for finding an eye doctor. Be sure to ask for a dilated eye exam.
When you get an eye exam, tell the doctor if anyone in your family has eye problems. Check out these tips for talking to the doctor about your eyes.
What About Cost?
Check with your insurance plan about costs and co-payments. If you have Medicare, it will pay for your eye exam if you have diabetes or if you are at risk for glaucoma. If you don’t have insurance, there may be free or low-cost eye care programs where you live.
Look Out for Problems
See an eye care professional right away if you have any of these problems:
- Sudden loss of vision
- Flashes of light
- Tiny spots that float across your eye
- Eye pain, redness or swelling
Check out these signs of eye problems to learn more.
Have Regular Physical Exams
Get regular exams to check for diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. These diseases can cause eye problems if they are not treated.
Lower Your Risk of Falling
Poor vision or the wrong glasses can increase your risk of falling. For people age 65 and older, falling can cause serious injuries and health problems.