Eye examination

Farsightedness affects just about everyone over the age of 40, so if you do much reading — or anything else that requires you to focus on something close to your face — you’ll probably need prescription glasses. Other age-related vision problems such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration develop gradually. Regular eye examinations can detect these potentially serious conditions in their early stages. If you’re over 60, you should see an optometrist every year to check for cataracts and other eye problems.

Who needs it

It is recommended that every person over the age of 40 should have their eyes checked by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist, a medical doctor with advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, at least every two years. If you wear contact lenses, have a known eye disease or have diabetes, then you’ll need to visit the optometrist more often.

How it’s done

The doctor examines the outside of your eyes for problems such as swelling or infection, then checks your retina with an ophthalmoscope (a small device that shines light into your pupil) to detect any damaged blood vessels. The doctor may give you eyedrops that dilate your pupils to get a better view. All examinations should include a test for glaucoma, a serious condition in which pressure builds up inside the eye. This painless test is done with a tonometer, an instrument that measures pressure in the eye.

What the results mean

If an optometrist detects a serious eye problem, you’ll need to see an ophthalmologist.