How often should you have an eye test?
By See Better · Updated · 5 min read
The short answer
Most adults should have an eye test every two years, even if their sight seems fine. Children, adults over 60, people with diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, and anyone who wears contact lenses usually need a test every year. Go sooner if your vision changes.
Key points
- Healthy adults under 60: every two years.
- Children, over-60s, people with diabetes and contact lens wearers: every year, or as your optometrist advises.
- Many eye conditions cause no symptoms early on, so regular tests matter even when you see well.
- Sudden changes in vision should never wait for your next routine test.
The recommended eye test schedule by age
How often you need an eye test depends mostly on your age and your health. The table below is the schedule most optometrists work from. Your own optometrist may ask to see you more often if they find something they want to keep an eye on.
| Who | How often |
|---|---|
| Babies and toddlers | A first check between 6 and 12 months, and again around age 3 |
| Children at school | Before Grade 1, then every one to two years |
| Adults 18 to 39 | Every two years |
| Adults 40 to 59 | Every two years, or yearly if you have risk factors |
| Adults 60 and over | Every year |
| People with diabetes | Every year, or as your doctor advises |
| Contact lens wearers | Every year |
Why two years is the usual gap
Your eyes change slowly, and your brain is good at adapting. Most people do not notice that their sight has slipped until an optometrist shows them the difference. Two years is long enough for a prescription to drift, and short enough to catch most problems early.
An eye test is also a health check. During the test your optometrist looks at the inside and outside of your eyes for early signs of conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and damage from diabetes or high blood pressure. Several of these cause no pain and no obvious symptoms until sight has already been lost, which is why waiting until something feels wrong is risky.
Who needs an eye test every year
Some people should not leave it for two years. A yearly test is the usual advice if you:
- are 60 or older, because cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration become more common with age
- have diabetes or high blood pressure
- have a parent, brother or sister with glaucoma
- wear contact lenses
- have a strong prescription or a prescription that keeps changing
- are a child or teenager, because young eyes change quickly while they grow
- take medication that your doctor has said can affect your eyes
If you are not sure which group you fall into, ask at your next test. Your optometrist will tell you when they want to see you again.
Signs you should not wait for your next routine test
Book an eye test now, whatever the calendar says, if you notice any of these:
- blurry vision at distance or up close
- headaches after reading, driving or screen work
- squinting, or holding your phone further away to read it
- trouble seeing at night or glare from headlights
- double vision
- eyes that are often red, dry, sore or tired
You can read more in 10 signs you need glasses.
Sudden loss of vision, a curtain or shadow across your sight, new flashes of light, a shower of floaters or a painful red eye are emergencies. Go to a doctor or an emergency unit straight away.
Eye tests and your driving licence
In South Africa you renew your driving licence card every five years, and each renewal includes an eye test. Five years is a long time for your sight to go unchecked, so do not treat the licence test as your routine eye care. A full eye test every two years means there are no surprises on renewal day. See the eye test for your driver's licence for what is checked.
What about medical aid?
Most South African medical schemes pay for an eye test and contribute to glasses on a fixed cycle, often once every 24 months. If you are on medical aid, it makes sense to use the benefit each time it renews. How medical aid covers eye tests and glasses explains what to check on your plan.
An eye test without the trip
If getting to a practice is what keeps you from going, the test can come to you. See Better is a mobile optometry service in Gauteng: an HPCSA-registered optometrist tests your eyes at your home or workplace. An eye test costs R450, and we are registered with most medical aids.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an eye test if I can see perfectly?
Yes. Seeing clearly does not mean your eyes are healthy. Glaucoma, early diabetic eye disease and some other conditions damage sight slowly and without symptoms. A routine eye test every two years is how they are found early.
How often should children have their eyes tested?
Children should have their eyes checked before they start Grade 1 and then every one to two years. Have them tested sooner if they squint, sit very close to screens, complain of headaches or struggle to see the board at school.
How long is a glasses prescription valid?
A glasses prescription is generally treated as current for about two years for adults, and one year for children and for contact lenses. Your optometrist writes the expiry or review date on the prescription.
Can I have an eye test more often than every two years?
Yes. You can have your eyes tested whenever you notice a change. If you are on medical aid, the scheme may only pay once per benefit cycle, so an extra test may be for your own account.
This article is general information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for an eye examination. If you are worried about your eyes or your sight, see an optometrist or a doctor. Sudden loss of vision, eye injuries and severe eye pain are emergencies.
