Many people wonder if they need to see their doctor or optometrist every year for a check-up, especially if they feel healthy and have no symptoms. The answer is not so simple, as different factors may affect how often you need a physical or eye exam. Here are some reasons why you may or may not need a yearly exam, and what to expect from it.
Benefits of Yearly Physical Exams
A yearly physical exam is a preventive measure that can help you stay on top of your health and catch any potential problems early. During a physical exam, your doctor will:
- Review your medical history, family history, medications, allergies, and lifestyle habits.
- Measure your vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and weight.
- Perform a physical examination of your body, such as listening to your heart and lungs, checking your abdomen, skin, eyes, ears, nose, and throat, and palpating your lymph nodes and thyroid gland.
- Order blood tests or other screening tests based on your age, gender, risk factors, and symptoms.
- Discuss any health concerns or questions you may have and provide advice on how to improve your health and prevent disease.
A yearly physical exam can help you:
- Detect and treat diseases early, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, and some cancers1.
- Monitor your chronic conditions and adjust your medications or treatment plan as needed.
- Update your immunizations and preventive care recommendations, such as mammograms, pap smears, colonoscopies, prostate exams, bone density tests, etc.
- Build a relationship with your primary care provider who knows your history and can coordinate your care with other specialists if needed1.
Benefits of Yearly Eye Exams
A yearly eye exam is also a preventive measure that can help you maintain your vision and eye health. During an eye exam, your optometrist will:
- Review your medical history, family history, medications, allergies, and vision problems.
- Measure your visual acuity (how well you see at different distances), refractive error (if you need glasses or contacts), eye pressure (to screen for glaucoma), and eye alignment (to check for strabismus or amblyopia).
- Perform a dilated eye examination to look inside your eye for signs of eye diseases or conditions, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, etc.
- Discuss any eye-related concerns or questions you may have and provide advice on how to protect your eyes and improve your vision.
A yearly eye exam can help you:
- Correct or improve your vision with glasses or contacts if needed.
- Detect and treat eye diseases early before they cause permanent vision loss or blindness234.
- Reveal more information about your overall health beyond your sight. For example, an optometrist can closely look inside your eye at the retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye), blood vessels (that supply oxygen and nutrients to the eye), and optic nerves (that connect the eye to the brain) — structures that are direct extensions of your brain5. Eye exams can help detect more than 270 serious health conditions5, such as diabetes5, high blood pressure5, autoimmune diseases5, and cancers5.
When You May Not Need a Yearly Exam
While yearly exams are generally recommended for most people aged 18 to 6451, there may be some exceptions depending on your individual situation. You may not need a yearly exam if:
- You have no risk factors for any diseases or conditions that require regular screening or monitoring.
- You have no symptoms or concerns that need to be addressed by a doctor or optometrist.
- You have already had a comprehensive exam within the past year that covered all the necessary tests and evaluations for your age group and gender.
- You have a different schedule for exams based on your doctor’s or optometrist’s recommendation.
However, even if you don’t need a yearly exam, you should still see your doctor or optometrist if you notice any changes in your health or vision that concern you. Some examples are:
- Unexplained weight loss or gain.
- Chest pain or shortness of breath.
- Fever or infection.
- Abnormal bleeding or bruising.
- Persistent pain or swelling in any part of the body.
- Changes in bowel or bladder habits.
- Changes in mood or mental status.
- Blurred vision or difficulty seeing clearly.
- Eye pain or redness.
- Flashes of light or floaters in your vision.
- Loss of peripheral vision or central vision.
Conclusion
Yearly physical and eye exams are important for many reasons, including your chance to ask questions, improve your health, and prevent future problems. However, not everyone needs a yearly exam, and you should consult with your doctor or optometrist to determine the best schedule for you. Remember, your health and vision are valuable, and you should take care of them as best as you can.
I hope you found this blog post helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please let me know in the comments section below. Thank you for reading! 😊
Learn more:
1. health.clevelandclinic.org2. bioscint.com3. optometrists.org4. 2020eyescolorado.org5. verywellhealth.com