Ages 20-39 | HealthyEyesWa.org

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Eye Care Timeline Ages 20-39


Before 3		Ages 3-19		Ages 20-39		Ages 40-64		Ages 65 and Over

Most young adults have healthy eyes. Nevertheless, occasional eye exams are still needed to be sure to catch any problems and to make sure any refractive errors are appropriately corrected.

Have a complete eye exam with an ophthalmologist at least one time between ages 20 and 29 and at least two times in your 30s.

You should also see an ophthalmologist if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Changes in your vision
Eye pain
Flashes of light
Seeing spots or ghost-like images
Lines appear distorted or wavy
Dry eyes with itching and burning

Most important, take care of your vision by protecting your eyes from the sun and from injury at work, at home, or in sports activities.

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Eye Facts and Myths

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All ‘eye doctors’ are NOT the same. (…ophthalmologists are the only eye care providers medically trained to diagnose and treat all eye diseases. Optometrists and opticians provide some aspects of eye care and are not medical doctors.)

Reading in dim light is NOT harmful to your eyes (...though good lighting does make reading easier and can prevent eye fatigue.)

Using computers does NOT damage your eyes (...though you may blink less which makes your eyes dry. This could cause the feeling of eyestrain or fatigue.)

Wearing the wrong kind of eyeglasses does NOT damage your eyes. (...but children younger than 8 who need glasses should wear their own to prevent developing “lazy eye.”)

Children do NOT simply outgrow crossed or misaligned eyes (...Children with this condition should be examined by an ophthalmologist.)

Learning disabilities are NOT caused by eye problems. (...though children who are having difficulties with school work should be checked to make sure they can see well.)

Sitting close to the television does NOT damage children’s eyes. (...however, some children with nearsightedness may sit close to the TV to see more clearly.)

Eating carrots does NOT improve your vision. (...a well-balanced diet, with or without carrots, provides all the vitamin A necessary for good vision.)

People with weak eyes or who wear glasses do NOT need to avoid reading fine print. (...you can use your eyes without fear of wearing them out.)

Wearing eyeglasses will NOT cause you to become dependent on them. (...you will just get used to seeing clearly.)

A cataract does NOT need to be ‘ripe’ before it is removed. (...it can be removed whenever it begins to interfere with a person’s lifestyle.)

Contact lenses do NOT prevent nearsightedness from getting worse. (...like glasses, they just allow you to see clearly.)

Eyes can NOT be transplanted. (...corneas, the clear front part of the eye, can be transplanted, but not the whole eye)

Healthy Eyes for Every Stage of Life
What should you know about eye care and prevention for you and your children?