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Rockyview Health Centre, 1011 Glenmore Trail SW Building #1 Suite 423, Calgary, AB T2V 4R6, Canada
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How Often Should You Get an Eye Exam? A Complete Guide

how often should you get an eye exam

Your eyes deserve just as much care and attention as the rest of your body. Being able to see clearly greatly influences your ability to learn, work, and enjoy your everyday life. An optometrist in SW Calgary will help keep your eyes healthy with regular checkups. However, many people ask how often they should book an eye exam altogether. This guide will tell you what you need to understand.

Why Are Eye Exams Important?

Routine eye examinations do more than show whether you need glasses or contact lenses:

  • Identify early stages of eye diseases such as glaucoma or cataracts.
  • Identify health issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
  • Evaluate your prescription to make sure it’s correct for visibility.
  • Relieve eye strain, which can cause headaches and/or difficulty focusing.

Having the option for comprehensive eye exams in Calgary allows you to safeguard your eyesight as well as your health.

Get Your Eyes Checked as an Adult?

Eye health and changes happen at a different rate as you age; the timing of your examination matters. For adults:

  • Ages 18-39 – every 2 years unless you have eye health issues.
  • Ages 40-64 – every 1-2 years, since the risk of eye disease increases.
  • Ages 65 and older – once per year to monitor for age-related changes.

If you experience sudden blurriness, eye pain, or double vision, you should get an appointment right away instead of waiting for your next routine exam. Routine comprehensive eye exams in SW Calgary can help identify and correct issues earlier that will help to maintain your vision clear at every age.

How Often Should Children Get an Eye Exam?

Children use their vision significantly to learn at school and navigate the world. This is why knowing how often should children get an eye exam is crucial.

  • Initial exam: At about 6 months old.
  • Preschool years: Ages 3 to 5.
  • School age: Yearly, as undiagnosed vision issues impact learning.

If a child frequently squints, has headaches, or has trouble seeing the board at school, a checkup sooner may be necessary.

What About Teenagers and Young Adults?

Teenagers and young adults might not give much thought to eye health, but this is an important time. An optometrist near you can suggest annual exams, particularly if you spend many hours on digital devices or wear contact lenses.

This prevents eye strain from computer use, protects the eyes when wearing contact lenses, and maintains clear vision for driving and school.

How Do You Know When to Book an Extra Exam?

Even if you maintain an eye exam schedule, you may need a comprehensive eye exam near you sooner. Schedule a visit if you experience:

  • Frequent headaches or discomfort with your eyes when staring at a digital device.
  • Blurred or double vision.
  • Difficulty seeing at night.
  • Recent sudden flashes of light or spots (floaters).
  • A family history of eye disease.

These are all signs of conditions that should be assessed for further evaluation sooner rather than later.

How Often to Get Your Eyes Checked by an Optometrist?

A simple way to recall how often you should get your eyes evaluated by an optometrist is this: once every one to two years for most adults, every year for seniors, and every year for school-aged children—and sooner if symptoms are present. When you maintain consistent eye care, you’re more likely to find and manage problems before they affect your vision.

Keep Your Eyes Healthy with Eyedeology Optometry

Clear vision is an important aspect of everyday living—whether it is learning in the classroom, doing activities, or working. Strong and healthy eyes start with a routine of regular checkups. At Eyedeology Optometry, we have a team of professionals here to provide complete eye care for the entire family.

If you’re booking your child’s first visit, as well as a check-up for yourself, or need an urgent concern addressed, getting in today will provide you with peace of mind tomorrow. Don’t wait until you experience blurry vision to make a plan—book your appointment with our team at Eyedeology Optometry today and notice the difference in eye health.

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Supporting Ocular Surface Healing and Comfort

The membrane contains natural growth factors and anti-inflammatory properties. When placed over the cornea, it acts as a protective layer that supports healing and may help reduce inflammation.

Potential Benefits

  • Supports Healing: Helps promote natural healing of the eye’s surface.
  • Reduces Inflammation: Its natural properties may help calm inflammation.
  • Improves Comfort: May help relieve discomfort related to dry eye.
  • Supports Recovery: Helps support the healing of the ocular surface.

Who May Benefit?

Amniotic Membrane Therapy may be suitable for people with moderate to severe dry eye, particularly when conventional treatments have not provided enough relief. An eye care professional can assess your eyes and determine if this treatment is appropriate.

How Does It Work?

The amniotic membrane is the innermost layer of the placenta and contains growth factors and anti-inflammatory properties. During treatment, a specially prepared membrane is placed over the eye’s surface to act as a biological covering and support healing.

What to Expect

Before treatment, your optometrist will examine your eyes and determine whether Amniotic Membrane Therapy is suitable for you.

  • Before Treatment: The eye is numbed with topical anesthetic drops, and the area is prepared.
  • Membrane Placement: The preserved and sterilized membrane is placed over the cornea.
  • After Placement: A special contact lens may be used to hold the membrane in place.
  • Post-Treatment Care: Antibiotic or anti-inflammatory eye drops may be prescribed when needed.
  • Follow-Up: Regular visits help monitor healing and the membrane’s absorption or integration.
Some patients may experience mild discomfort, a foreign body sensation, or temporary blurred vision after treatment. Improvement in symptoms may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the individual.

Understanding Dry Eye and Your Treatment Options

Dry eye can develop for several reasons, and understanding the underlying cause is an important part of managing symptoms. Our team can assess your eyes and help develop a management plan based on your individual needs.

Common Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye can affect both eyes and may cause different symptoms, including:

  • Stinging or Burning – A burning, stinging, or gritty feeling in the eyes.
  • Eye Redness – Red or irritated eyes.
  • Light Sensitivity – Increased sensitivity to light.
  • Excessive Watering – Eyes that water more than usual.
  • Blurred Vision or Eye Fatigue – Blurry vision or tired, strained eyes.
  • Foreign Body Sensation – A feeling that something is in your eye.

What Causes Dry Eye?

A healthy tear film has several components that work together to keep the surface of the eye comfortable and protected. Dry eye can occur when tear production decreases or when tears evaporate too quickly.

Several factors may contribute to dry eye, including:

  • Aging
  • Allergies
  • Hormonal changes
  • Eyelid problems
  • Gland dysfunction
  • Certain health conditions
  • Living in a dry climate
  • Extended screen time

One common factor is blockage of the Meibomian glands, which produce the lipid layer of the tear film. When these glands are not functioning properly, tear evaporation can increase and contribute to dry eye symptoms.

A Personalized Approach to Dry Eye Management

Managing dry eye involves more than simply using eye drops. Our team can help develop a personalized plan that may include targeted in-office treatments, nutritional guidance, and home care based on your needs. 

Home care may include:

  • Warm Compresses: Used as part of a regular eye-care routine.
  • Lid Hygiene: Keeping the eyelids and surrounding area clean.
  • Artificial Tears: May be recommended to help manage dryness and discomfort.

In-Office Treatment Options

For patients with more severe dry eye symptoms, targeted in-office treatments may be considered. Available options include:

  • Radiofrequency
  • Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)
  • LipiFlow Therapy

These treatments may be used as part of dry eye management for symptoms such as burning, itching, redness, and irritation. The appropriate approach depends on the underlying factors contributing to your symptoms.

Managing Your Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye can have several contributing factors, so treatment is not the same for everyone. A thorough assessment can help identify factors affecting your tear film and determine which management options may be appropriate.

If you are experiencing persistent dryness, irritation, redness, light sensitivity, or other symptoms, speak with our eye care team about your dry eye management options.

Deep Cleansing for Healthier Eyelids and Lashes

ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) is an in-office eyelid cleaning and debridement treatment developed by Zocular®. It is designed to clean the eyelids and lashes while helping address concerns associated with dry eye, blepharitis, and demodex.

The treatment uses a natural, okra-based gel to remove oil, debris, and residue from the eyelid margins and lashes. By improving eyelid hygiene, ZEST can help reduce the buildup that may contribute to irritation and inflammation around the eyes.

What Is ZEST?

ZEST works like a deep cleansing treatment for the eyelids and lashes. During the procedure, the okra-based gel is applied along the eyelid margins and lashes using a cotton swab. The gel is gently worked into a lather using circular motions before being rinsed away with saline solution.
The gel contains a refined extract of okra, an edible green seed pod. According to the provided product information, okra helps lift and clear oil, debris, and residue while being gentle around the eye area.

How Can ZEST Help?

Keeping the eyelids, eyelid margins, and lashes clean is an important part of eye hygiene. Buildup along the eyelid edges can contribute to symptoms such as itching, burning, gritty sensations, redness, and irritation.

ZEST is designed to address this buildup through thorough cleansing and debridement.

  • Removes Debris: Helps clear dirt, oil, and residue from the eyelid margins and lashes.
  • Supports Eyelid Hygiene: Provides a deeper cleansing treatment than routine eyelid cleaning.
    Addresses Demodex: The treatment is designed to help remove demodex mites and associated debris.
  • Helps Reduce Inflammation: Cleansing the eyelid area may help address buildup associated with irritation and inflammation.
  • Supports Dry Eye Care: ZEST may help relieve symptoms associated with dry eye and poor eyelid hygiene.

ZEST for Dry Eye, Blepharitis, and Demodex

Dry eye and blepharitis can be associated with inadequate eyelid hygiene. Debris along the eyelid margins can enter the tear film with blinking, potentially contributing to redness and irritation.

Demodex mites can also be present in the hair follicles around the eyelashes. According to the provided information, they may contribute to inflammation and dry eye symptoms by blocking the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes.

ZEST provides targeted cleansing of the eyelid margins and lashes to help remove this buildup and address demodex-related concerns.

A Simple In-Office Treatment

The ZEST procedure is performed in the office and involves applying the cleansing gel to the eyelid margins and lashes, working it into a lather, and then rinsing the area with saline solution. The treatment is designed to provide thorough eyelid and lash cleansing without requiring a lengthy procedure.

Is ZEST Right for You?

ZEST may be considered for patients experiencing symptoms associated with dry eye, blepharitis, demodex, or eyelid debris. An eye care professional can assess your symptoms and determine whether ZEST is appropriate for your eye care needs.
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