Why yearly for some people
The eye diseases that cause most vision loss (glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and cataract) progress slowly and silently, and their risk rises with age and with specific conditions. A year is about the interval at which early change can be caught before it costs vision. For a healthy 30 year old the same interval finds little; for a 65 year old with a family history of glaucoma it may find the beginning of a disease that would otherwise be noticed only once vision was lost.
Who should be seen every year
- Adults 65 and over, often yearly and at least every one to two years, for cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration
- Everyone with diabetes, at any age, for retinopathy
- Patients with glaucoma, ocular hypertension or a first-degree relative with glaucoma
- Black and Hispanic adults over 40, who have higher glaucoma risk
- Highly nearsighted patients, for retinal thinning and tears
- Contact lens wearers, for corneal health and lens fit
- Patients on hydroxychloroquine, long-term steroids or other medications that affect the eye
- Patients with previous eye surgery, injury or a diagnosed eye condition
Children
Children's vision develops in the first years of life, and problems such as lazy eye (amblyopia) are treatable only while it is developing. Children are usually checked by vision screening at their pediatrician's well-child visits, with a full eye exam if a problem is found or suspected, and sooner if a teacher or parent notices squinting, head tilting or difficulty seeing the board. Nearsightedness that appears in childhood is monitored regularly; ask our team whether myopia control is offered.
What the annual exam includes
A comprehensive exam, with dilation at the interval your doctor recommends, and the additional tests your risk calls for: OCT for glaucoma suspects and macular disease, retinal photography for diabetes, corneal assessment for contact lens wearers. The findings are compared with previous years, which is how slow change is detected.
Is this right for your eyes?
Nothing on this page is a diagnosis. Whether this is the right choice for you is decided by a full examination at one of our 4 offices: Pasadena, Huntington Beach, Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills.
About this content: This page was written with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Bavand Youssefzadeh, DO. It is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace an eye examination. Individual results vary. Read our medical disclaimer.
