How often should you be examined by an ophthalmologist? Children's ophthalmologist - frequency and reasons for a child to visit an ophthalmologist Ophthalmologists recommend being examined more often

To maintain eye health and good vision for many years, it is very important to be regularly examined by a specialist. Almost all modern optical shops are equipped with an optometrist's office, so it is very easy to carry out a systematic check.

The frequency of vision testing depends on a number of factors: the patient’s profession, his working conditions and, of course, age. Another important factor is the general condition of the body, since all processes in it are interconnected. Thus, diseases of the cardiovascular system affect blood supply, including to the organs of vision.

Eye examination by an ophthalmologist for children

Each child, on average, until the age of sixteen, undergoes the formation of the body, and the organs of vision are no exception. That is why children belong to a separate category of patients. However, most eye diseases in childhood are much easier to cure than in adults.

Testing a child's visual acuity depends on his current age. Ophthalmologists recommend the following frequency of eye examinations for children:

from birth to three years - once a year;
from four to six years - two to three times a year (this is a very important period in the formation of a child’s vision; the child begins to put a strain on the visual system as he learns to read and watches TV more often or is at the computer);
from seven to sixteen years - once or twice a year (in the presence of high activity and chronic diseases, perhaps three times a year).

How often should an adult have their eyes checked?

Every adult should have their vision checked at least once a year, even with ideal eye and body health. However, there are some peculiarities.

If a person’s work involves regular use of a computer, it is necessary to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist once a year.

For example, students and teachers who spend a lot of time studying textbooks, notes, and research projects need to take even more care of their vision. Constant use of gadgets can lead to chronic spasm of the ciliary muscle, which is responsible for focusing vision. Subsequently, this can lead to deterioration of distance vision.

Drivers, especially long-distance drivers, are also at risk of contracting the disease described above. Because concentrating on the road for a long time, especially in bad weather conditions, the visual system is overstrained.

Experts strongly recommend that people in professions such as builders or welders be examined once every six months, this is due to the fact that they work in difficult conditions (sharp flashes, bright light, dust).

Remember that good vision is something that a happy and healthy person cannot do without. If, nevertheless, you have identified violations, choose only high-quality means for its correction: glasses or. A good ophthalmologist will select the best treatment option for you and write out the necessary prescription. Frequent checks are also necessary in order to identify current vision parameters, since they can change for the better or for the worse.

Unfortunately, the statistics of eye diseases in children are not encouraging. More than 60% of children already have vision problems in their first ten years. Eye diseases can negatively affect not only the quality of life and mastery of educational material, but also health in general, because the eyes are an indicator of the condition of the entire body.

Fortunately, pediatric ophthalmologists come to the rescue. Below we will look at when and how often children should be shown to an ophthalmologist, what a good pediatric ophthalmologist should be able to do, and what criteria does he pay attention to? when examining the condition of a small patient.

Pediatric ophthalmologists: how often to visit them?

A pediatric ophthalmologist sets himself the task prevent the development of diseases and preserve the children's vision. A vision test is a basic procedure during an annual preventive medical examination. That is, you need to show your child to an ophthalmologist at least once a year.

It is recommended to make the first visit to the ophthalmologist when the child is one month old. At the age of up to one year, you can get tested at 2-3 months, six months and directly at one year. In the future, the child can be examined at 3, 5 and 7 years. Such precautions will help to diagnose many diseases in a timely manner, and as a result, preserve and correct vision, avoiding potential negative consequences. An eye examination is also necessary. before entering school or kindergarten.

But if you notice something suspicious, you need to immediately contact a specialist, even if unscheduled, since inflammatory processes in children manifest themselves specifically and progress quickly. If treatment is taken in a timely manner, then vision problems with correct and prompt treatment are usually resolved quickly and effectively, without serious interventions.

Children need regular examinations at risk, namely:

Children whose parents have vision diseases;
Children born prematurely;
Children whose relatives have glaucoma.

In what cases should a child be taken to a pediatric ophthalmologist?

In addition to the annual examination, if you notice any of the following circumstances in your child, better make an appointment and check again. Here they are:

What does a good pediatric ophthalmologist look for?

What should a qualified doctor be able to do?

Prescribe the correct treatment based on the principles of evidence-based medicine and modern scientific works.
Select contact lenses or corrective glasses after first determining the child’s visual acuity.
Correctly interpret the symptoms that appear. For example, mucus in the corners of a baby's eyes does not necessarily confirm the presence of conjunctivitis; there is a possibility that this is dacryocystitis of newborns, in which obstruction or narrowness of the lacrimal canal appears.
Promptly detect the disease and take action. In some cases, the child’s complete recovery and complete prevention of negative consequences in the future will depend on this. For example, timely diagnosed and relieved accommodative spasm will not turn into a more serious stage - myopia. Glaucoma stopped at a young age will not impair vision in adulthood. In addition, in childhood, ophthalmological operations are more effective and less traumatic.

How to choose the best pediatric optometrist?

It is impossible to say for sure which ophthalmologist is best for the child, since a lot depends on the specialization. Some doctors are experts in working with newborns (congenital cataracts, retinopathy, and so on), others successfully use hardware vision correction (for strabismus and amblyopia), others are specialists in the field of correction of eyelid pathologies, and so on. That is, you need to choose a doctor based on the existing problems.

conclusions

It is recommended to visit a pediatric ophthalmologist at least once a year, as well as in front of the school and kindergarten. However, in educational institutions a full medical examination is carried out annually, and a visit to an ophthalmologist is mandatory by default. Until the child is one year old, it would be useful to be examined at 2-3 months, and then at six months.

Children who are at risk (those with diseases that can have a negative impact on the eyes, as well as parents and relatives with eye pathologies) should visit an ophthalmologist more often. If there is the slightest sign of eye problems, complaints from a child or suspicion of injury You should immediately go to a pediatric ophthalmologist, as timely treatment will avoid serious consequences in the future.

I wonder how often you need to go to the ophthalmologist to check your vision, considering that we communicate with the computer every day. You need to visit an ophthalmologist regularly. An ancient proverb says that “our eyes are the window to the soul.” Based on the state of the organ of vision, you can learn about the health of the body as a whole. The first signs of diabetes mellitus and diseases of the cardiovascular system often appear in the eyes long before classic symptoms appear. The list of somatic diseases, the manifestations of which can be diagnosed by the condition of the eyes, is very extensive.

Who needs a comprehensive vision examination?

To all children.

In children, the visual analyzer develops and develops, so vision examinations are required regularly in order to promptly detect and correct emerging anomalies in the development of the child’s eyes. A child's vision should be checked at the following ages:

Soon after birth;

about 6 months;

at 3 years old;

before school and at school every year.

People with good eyesight.

If everything is fine with vision, it is enough for adults and children to undergo a complete vision diagnostics for the purpose of prevention. 1 time per year. If problems are discovered, the doctor will tell you after the first consultation how often you will need to have checks subsequently.

For everyone whose vision is failing.

In this case, it is not enough to specify the number of diopters to select glasses, since there are diseases whose symptoms are similar to myopia and farsightedness. We need to find out what exactly is the reason for the loss of vision. This can only be shown by a comprehensive examination.

For those who wear contact lenses.

The lens is a foreign body for our eye; it can cause changes that are unnoticeable at first. Improper processing and storage, exceeding the wearing period, sleeping in contact lenses not intended for this purpose can lead to serious consequences (for example, ingrowth of blood vessels into the cornea).
A vision diagnosis is also important so that your doctor can make sure that you can wear contact lenses. Few people know that there are contraindications for wearing lenses for patients with pathological changes in the cornea of the eye, inflammatory ocular processes, allergic intolerance to drugs included in the storage solution, etc.

To all women planning pregnancy.

Those who have myopia or retinal problems should pay special attention to their vision and undergo regular examinations before and during pregnancy. An ophthalmologist will determine whether it is necessary to carry out preventive strengthening of the retina using barrier laser coagulation. This procedure significantly reduces the risk of vision problems.

Every person over 40-50 years old, even those who do not have vision complaints

At this age, the risk of age-related eye diseases (cataracts, glaucoma, etc.) increases significantly. To prevent or detect these and other diseases in the early stages, it is necessary to pay special attention to the state of vision. A With diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, regular vision diagnostics are simply necessary.

Also, examination is important...

· If among your relatives (including distant ones) someone had glaucoma or cataracts;

· People with nervous and cardiovascular diseases;

· People with low (relative to age norm) blood pressure;

· People who have suffered eye injuries, inflammatory diseases (uveitis, iridocyclitis, etc.) of the eyes, eye surgery;

· People with a high degree of myopia and farsightedness;

· Undergoing a long course of treatment with hormonal drugs.

Unfortunately, many do not follow the recommendations of ophthalmologists to regularly undergo examinations of the visual system, while most eye diseases in the early stages of development are practically asymptomatic, and without timely detection can lead to very serious deterioration of vision, and often to blindness.

That is why every patient of the Okomedson Medical Center has the opportunity to undergo diagnostics of the visual system, as a result of which vision features are identified and the causes of vision deterioration are determined.

Many people are interested in how often they should have their eyes checked. Experts recommend periodically visiting an ophthalmologist, even if the patient does not experience symptoms of visual impairment and has no complaints. At the initial stage, the disease may not manifest itself, and in the advanced stage it is more difficult to treat. Let's consider how often you need to examine your vision organs.

Most eye diseases and refractive errors are quickly and easily treated in the early stages, so it is recommended to undergo a systematic examination by an ophthalmologist, even in the absence of discomfort, pain or any other obvious symptoms. This will prevent the adverse consequences that accompany progressive diseases, and also, if necessary, select the most gentle and painless method of treatment.

Many people are interested in how often they should have their eyes checked if nothing is bothering them. It all depends on the age and individual characteristics of each patient. For example, people with serious eye diseases need to be examined by a specialist much more often than others - literally every month. Women during pregnancy should visit a doctor in the first and last trimester to eliminate the risk of retinal detachment and ensure the possibility of a natural birth.

How often should children have their eyes checked?

With the help of their visual organs, a child gets acquainted with the world around him, so it is extremely important to pay due attention to their health. The visual system is formed in children during the first 5 years, but, oddly enough, defects can be detected already on the first day of life. Therefore, the first eye examination is carried out in the maternity hospital, immediately after birth. The eyes of babies weighing up to 2 kg and babies who were born earlier than expected are looked at especially carefully. During this period, the health of the child's eyes is determined during an external examination. The specialist examines the palpebral fissures: they should be narrow and have the same shape. The eyes of a healthy child react to light: the eyelids close and the pupil constricts. To exclude congenital cataracts, a specialist examines the fundus of a small patient using an ophthalmoscope.
If no abnormalities were detected at birth, the next time the child’s vision should be checked is at 3 months. It is worth noting that during this period the specialist may detect slight strabismus. This is a common phenomenon in children because their visual system is in the process of developing. Therefore, you should not be alarmed prematurely; in most cases, this pathology disappears on its own over time.
Next, the child’s vision is checked at 6 months and, if everything is in order, the next visit to the ophthalmologist is scheduled at 3 years (before kindergarten). At this age, a specialist can already accurately determine the presence of various refractive errors, for example, farsightedness or myopia. The next examination should be carried out before school - at the age of six.

How often should children have their eyes checked?

Immediately after birth (reaction to light is checked);
At 3 months (squint may be observed, which is normal);
When the baby is six months old.
At 3 years old - before kindergarten, and also at 6 years old - before school.

How often should a teenager have their eyes checked?

Modern teenagers from an early age actively use smartphones, tablets and other gadgets, which has a negative impact on the eyes. Scientific research shows a trend toward worsening vision in preschool children. To maintain the health of a teenager’s eyes, it is necessary to systematically undergo examination by an ophthalmologist and adhere to a number of recommendations.
Experts say schoolchildren should visit an ophthalmologist every year. This will allow early detection of various refractive errors and prevent the development of diseases. During the examination, the doctor will diagnose the patient's eyes using modern equipment, which will allow him to study whether visual acuity is decreasing and whether correction is required.
It is worth noting that only about 3% of diseases of the visual system are hereditary, and the remaining 97% are acquired. Lack of physical activity, excessive fatigue, lack of vitamins, unbalanced diet and sedentary lifestyle often lead to decreased vision clarity in adolescents. To prevent this, you need to follow simple recommendations.

Get examined by an ophthalmologist annually;
Control your visual load;
Make sure that the student’s diet is balanced;
Properly equip his workplace;
Make sure your child plays outdoors more often;
Do not allow your teenager to read while lying down or in transport;
Monitor his sleep patterns;
Make sure he does eye exercises.

How often do adults visit an ophthalmologist?

Adults from 18 to 64 years old need to have their vision checked regularly every two years. During a preventive examination, a specialist will examine the condition of the visual system and, if necessary, provide recommendations regarding the selection of correction means. For patients who are already being treated for eye conditions, periodic check-ups allow them to monitor how current and effective the current correction method is.
As a rule, vision decreases after 40 years due to age-related changes occurring in the lens. It partially loses its elasticity and becomes deformed, which leads to the development of presbyopia. In this case, special multifocal lenses are used to correct vision, allowing you to clearly perceive objects at different distances. This eliminates the need to use several pairs of glasses at once.

Popular lenses for presbyopia correction:

Air Optix Aqua Multifocal from Alcon;
1-Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal from Johnson & Johnson;
Biofinity Multifocal from CooperVision.

It should be noted that after 65 years of age, it is recommended to undergo an annual examination by an ophthalmologist. This is because in adulthood there is an increased risk of developing serious eye diseases. People with glaucoma and cataracts need to be especially careful about their eye health and undergo monthly examinations by a specialist.

At what distance should your vision be tested?

Most private clinics use modern equipment to check the visual system, allowing you to quickly and effectively analyze visual acuity, measure intraocular pressure and assess the condition of the fundus.
If the test is carried out without the use of equipment, as a rule, a special Sivtsev table (with letters) or a Golovin table (with figures for children) is used, which is located at a distance of at least three meters. However, some experts argue that for reliable analysis it is necessary to place it at a distance of about 4-5 meters.
With the development of technology, patients have the opportunity to check visual acuity without leaving home, using special tables and programs on computers. However, it should be remembered that the reliability of such a test is low, it will not replace high-precision equipment and will not give a guaranteed result. Only a qualified specialist can correctly assess the state of the visual system during a comprehensive examination.

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