---
title: "Routine eye exams | Eye Health Guide"
description: "Practical guidance on how often to have eye exams, what to expect at a sight test, and the difference between opticians and ophthalmologists."
url: https://eyehealthguide.org/eye-care/routine-eye-exams/
source: Eye Health Guide
licence: "General information only. Cite the URL and the named medical reviewer."
---

Eye care guide

# Routine eye exams

Medical reviewer [Mr Mohamed Mohyudin](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/mohamed-mohyudin/)· Last recorded site review July 6, 2026

### About this review

This page inherits the site’s previous review record. A separate, current article sign-off has not yet been recorded.

[How review works](https://eyehealthguide.org/reviewers/) · [Official biography & credentials](https://mohamedmohyudin.co.uk/author/mohamed-mohyudin/)

Quick answer

Most adults should have a routine eye exam every two years, or every year if you wear glasses, have diabetes, or are over 40 with risk factors. Children need checks around age 4 to 5 and again in their early teens. An optician tests vision and eye health; an ophthalmologist is a medical eye doctor for disease and surgery.

### On this page ⌄

1. How often to have an eye exam
2. What happens at a routine exam
3. Optician versus ophthalmologist
4. When to book sooner
5. Frequently asked questions

## How often to have an eye exam

NHS-style guidance recommends regular checks even when vision feels fine, because glaucoma and diabetic eye disease often have no early symptoms.

- Adults under 40 with no symptoms: every two years if advised by your clinician
- Adults over 40, or with glasses, diabetes or family eye disease: often yearly
- Children: vision screening around age 4 to 5, and a full test if squint or poor vision is suspected
- Contact lens wearers: annual checks as a minimum

## What happens at a routine exam

A standard eye test checks both how clearly you see and the health of the eyes.

- History: your symptoms, general health, medicines and family eye history
- Vision test: reading letters or shapes at a distance and near
- Refraction: working out whether glasses or a new prescription are needed
- Eye pressure check: a quick test for glaucoma risk
- Front and back of eye examination: often with drops to widen pupils in a full exam

## Optician versus ophthalmologist

An optometrist (optician) is your first port of call for sight tests, glasses, contact lenses and detecting common eye problems. An ophthalmologist is a medically trained eye doctor who diagnoses and treats eye disease, prescribes specialist medicines and performs surgery. You are usually referred to an ophthalmologist if a sight test finds worrying signs.

## When to book sooner

Do not wait for a routine appointment if you have sudden vision loss, new flashes and floaters, eye pain, an injury or a red painful eye. These need same-day assessment.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need an eye test if I can see clearly?

Yes. Many serious eye conditions develop silently. Regular exams detect glaucoma, diabetic changes and other problems before they affect vision noticeably.

### Are eye exams free?

This varies by country and age. In the UK, NHS sight tests are free for eligible groups including children and many adults over 60. Check local rules where you live.

### How long does a routine eye exam take?

Most take 20 to 30 minutes. A first visit or a full dilated exam can take longer.

Your next step

## Take this to your appointment

Write down what has changed, when it started, your current medicines and the questions you want answered. Take these to your eye-care appointment.

Sudden loss of sight, severe eye pain or a dark curtain across vision needs immediate assessment. Do not wait to complete a worksheet.

## Trusted sources

For general background, these organisations provide eye-health information. This list is further reading, not a record that they reviewed this article.

- [NHS — Health A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/)
- [Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust](https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/)
- [American Academy of Ophthalmology — EyeHealth](https://www.aao.org/eye-health)
- [National Eye Institute (NIH)](https://www.nei.nih.gov/)
- [College of Optometrists — Look After Your Eyes](https://lookafteryoureyes.org/)
- [World Health Organization — Eye care, vision impairment and blindness](https://www.who.int/health-topics/blindness-and-vision-loss)