Many people look forward to updating their smartphone every few years, but hesitate to update their vision prescription. Even if you see just fine with an outdated glasses prescription, skipping your routine visit with your optometrist is never a great idea.
How else are you to stay on top of your vision and eye health?
Glasses prescriptions are valid for 1-2 years, although the exact timeline is set by your optometrist, depending on your age, eye health, and specific vision needs.
Prescriptions are often valid for two years for adults with stable vision. Meanwhile, prescriptions for children, seniors, or those with certain eye conditions may only last for one year.
Glasses prescriptions don’t last forever, so update your vision and stay on top of your eye health with routine eye exams.
Why Do Glasses Prescriptions Expire?
Glasses prescriptions expire for good reason. Eyes are naturally dynamic; their health and visual sharpness can change over time. You might be surprised to find how much your eyes can change even in a year!
Glasses prescriptions expire every 1-2 years (depending on several factors) precisely because your eyes can change over time.
However, routine eye exams are about more than just updating your glasses. They’re a comprehensive preventative measure for detecting eye conditions, like macular degeneration or glaucoma, even at their earliest stages.
Similar to visiting your family doctor or dentist for regular check-ups, these exams serve as a way for your optometrist to monitor ongoing changes and adjust your prescription if necessary.
As a general rule, we recommend that:
- Children (up to age 19) should have an annual eye exam. Children can have their first exam as early as 6-9 months.
- Adults (20-64) can get by with an eye exam every 2 years, unless they are at high risk of eye disease or have certain systemic illnesses.
- Seniors (65+) are encouraged to have yearly check-ups.
We see this variation in prescription validity and eye exam frequency because of factors such as:
- Age: Vision changes rapidly in children and teens as their eyes continue to grow. Similarly, seniors are more susceptible to age-related visual changes.
- Eye health: People undergoing myopia control therapy might require more frequent vision check-ups, while those with certain eye conditions, like glaucoma or macular degeneration, might require careful monitoring as part of their treatment.
- Health status: Health conditions like high blood pressure can cause visual changes. Similarly, people with diabetes typically require annual diabetic eye exams to preserve their eye health and vision.
- Contact lens wearers: Since contacts sit directly on the eye’s surface, they require an annual eye exam to renew the prescription.
- Lens damage: If someone’s lenses are scratched or damaged, but their prescription is up-to-date, they can replace their lenses to avoid strain and discomfort.
Why You Should Update Your Vision Prescription
Sticking with an outdated prescription might not seem like a big deal, but there’s no greater investment than caring for your vision.
Here are just a few reasons to update your prescription regularly:
- Visual comfort: A mismatched prescription can lead to headaches, blurry vision, and eye strain. Keeping your prescription up to date confirms your eyes aren’t overworking themselves.
- Maintain good eye health: Eye exams do more than monitor your vision. They help detect underlying eye and health conditions early on, allowing timely treatment and management for better health outcomes.
- Adapt to lifestyle changes: A prescription should match your lifestyle! Suppose you’ve shifted to a job with heavy screen time or picked up a hobby like needlework that requires precision vision like needlework. An updated prescription can support your daily endeavours.
- Explore new lens technology: Updated prescriptions often include recommendations for new lens technologies, like blue-light-filtering lenses or progressive options, that cater to changing industries and environments.
Signs You Need a New Prescription
Even if your prescription is technically still valid or if you feel as though your glasses from 4 years ago support your vision just fine, there are some signs to look for that suggest otherwise.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s time to book an eye exam:
- Difficulty focusing on nearby or faraway objects
- Frequent headaches or migraines
- Chronic eye strain or tired eyes
- Experiencing double vision or blurry vision
- Noticing light sensitivity or glare issues
- Consistently squinting to read or view objects clearly
Being proactive about these symptoms can help make everyday life more comfortable and can even identify underlying health concerns. In fact, certain eye conditions, like glaucoma, can manifest without noticeable symptoms until the damage progresses.
Timely intervention through routine eye exams can help safeguard your sight!
Stay on Top of Your Eye Health
The lifespan of your vision prescription should encourage you to stay on top of your eye health. Regular updates verify that changes in your vision or eye health don’t go unnoticed, helping you achieve stronger and sharper vision. For anyone experiencing sudden changes in eyesight, don’t wait for your prescription to expire. Whether you’re a few months overdue for a visit or it’s been a few years, connect with our Tutt Street Optometry team today and book an eye exam as soon as possible!
