Teens and Young Adults
Teens and young adults should have annual eye exams until the age of about 23.
In teenagers, vision changes are more common and much quicker. Shifts in vision often come in unpredictable steps which can be detected by regular eye exams. The frequent use of contact lenses in teenagers increases the risks of infections, corneal damage and disease, making it more important for some teens to be seen more than once a year.
Most teens and young adults have healthy eyes, but still need to take care of their vision by wearing protective eyewear when playing sports, doing yard work, or taking part in other activities that could cause an eye injury. It’s also important to guard the eyes from the sun by wearing quality sunglasses that offer UV protection.
Be aware of symptoms that could indicate a problem and see a doctor if you have the following:
- Visual changes or pain
- Flashes of light
- Seeing spots or ghost-like images
- Lines that appear distorted or wavy
- Dry eyes with itching and burning
Young adults over 23 who have had healthy eye exams and no need for glasses are usually able to go two years between eye exams until they turn 40.
However, those who wear glasses, contacts, or have known eye conditions should be seen as often as recommended by your Premier Medical physician.
