Recommended Eye Exam Frequency
for Pediatric Patients and Adults
Recommended Examination Frequency For the Pediatric Patient
Birth to 24 Months
At 6 months of age
By 6 months of age or as recommended
2 to 5 years
At 3 years of age
At 3 years of age or as recommended
6 to 18 years
Before first grade and every two years thereafter
Annually or as recommended
Children considered to be at risk for the development of eye and vision problems may need additional testing or more frequent re-evaluation. Factors placing an infant, toddler, or child at significant risk for visual impairment include:
- Prematurity, low birth weight, oxygen at birth, grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage
- Family history of retinoblastoma, congenital cataracts, or metabolic or genetic disease
- Infection of mother during pregnancy (e.g., rubella, toxoplasmosis, venereal disease, herpes, cytomegalovirus, or AIDS)
- Difficult or assisted labor, which may be associated with fetal distress or low Apgar scores
- High refractive error
- Strabismus
- Anisometropia
- Known or suspected central nervous system dysfunction evidenced by developmental delay, cerebral palsy, dysmorphic features, seizures, or hydrocephalus
18 to 60 years
Every two years
Every one to two years or as recommended
61 and older
Annually
Annually or as recommended
Patients at risk include those:
- with diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of ocular disease (e.g., glaucoma, macular degeneration)
- working in occupations that are highly demanding visually or eye hazardous
- taking prescription or nonprescription drugs with ocular side effects
- wearing contact lenses
- who have had eye surgery
- with other health concerns or conditions.