When should you get a vision exam?
115069
I think it would be best to get one once a year...
210926
If you purchased your last supply of contacts from your eye doctor, he/she will likely be willing to give you a free pair to get you by until your appointment (this is one of the many benefits of ordering your lenses from your eye doctor and not online).  If you bought them online, you're out of luck until April 28th.
498871
There isn't a set minimum age, but they will be reluctant to do it if your prescription has been changing frequently over the last few years.  You have to wait until your eyes seem to be done changing, or it'll be a waste.  A friend of mine had them done at age 18, but he was wearing glasses again within a few years.  He got it done again at 24 or 25 and he's been fine since then.  I'm just about 21 and my eye doctor said I could get it done now.  Consult with an eye doctor to find out for sure.
114210
In most states, retail optical establishments like "Pearl Vision" and "Lenscrafters" are not allowed by law to employ optometrists or ophthamologists (eye doctors). They allow the doctors to utilize space provided to them (usually at a cost) in order to draw customers. The best place to get an eye exam is to find a Licensed Optometrist or Board Certified Ophthamologist that you are comfortable with and get your exam done.  As far as glasses and contacts go, "Lenscrafters" are pricier but far better in selection.
303463
Well, for a short sighted person it is pretty normal. I am 22 and my eyes are both at a -6. They say that your eyes worsen until the age of 18 and then it should stop. Do not be distressed, your eyesight is not that bad when compared to mine.
1020381
I'd suggest getting the right prescription for your eyes regardless of cost..  If you don't, you won't be able to see clearly, and will also lead to headaches...\n\nTake it from someone who has bad astigmatism. ;)
304976
I guess any time ask your eye doctor.
170839
Maybe you should go to an eye doctor.
586805
yes go to an optometrist
185418
Are you talking about the eye surgery. I think the age that they will start performing is 21. Your eyes have to stop changing and you have to be approved by your doctor first, to see if your eyes will work in this type of surgery.
943794
I'm an optometrist, and my first word of advice is to get your eyes checked.  Especially at this time, when you are preparing to drive, make sure that you are seeing as clearly as possible.\n\nIf the ONLY thing going on with your eyes is that you are nearsighted (getting an eye exam is the only way to verify this)....glasses won't make your eyes worse.  You're safe.  The only thing glasses will do is show you detail.  That said, I can pretty much promise that your eyes will get worse for probably the next 5 years, with or without glasses.  The amount of nearsightedness you have is related to the size of your eyeball.  As long as you are growing, your eyes will grow, and you will become more nearsighted.\n\nTo make an analogy (bear with me here), your thumb will continue to grow until your hand is done growing, whether you wear a glove or not.  But if your hand is cold, it's more comfortable to wear a glove.  Likewise with your eyes--they will continue to change whether you wear glasses or not.  It's just going to be more comfortable if you can wear glasses and actually see things.
1068334
I recently started doing eye exercises to improve my vision. I am seeing some improvements, which is great encouragement to continue.\n\nI created a website and a blog so that people can follow my progress. Check it out...\n\nhttp://www.improvingmyeyesight.com/\n\nThere is also an article which talks about nutrition and eye care\nhttp://improvingmyeyesight.com/Nutrition_and_Eye_Health.html
66795
I think your asking if he needs to see his primary care Doctor before July?  Hopefully an ophthalmologist diagnosed him with the cataracts and glaucoma.  If not, I agree that he needs to see one asap.  If his regular appointment with your family Doctor is in July it would probably be safe to wait until then.  If he has diabetes he should his primary care Doctor sooner.  Just an opinion.  Don't forgot-you get what you pay for :-).
1160626
When dealing with your eyes, I wouldn't go to the cheapest place around unless, of course, you cannot afford to go anywhere else. If your health insurance covers occular exams, then you will want to go to an optometrist who contracts with your insurance company. If you don't have health insurance, then feel free to go to a qualified doctor in your area. It would probably help if you stated where in the US you are looking for an eye doctor-oftentimes the schools of optometry offer cheap rates, the student doctors are supervised by professors and the only downside is that sometimes it takes a while.
858202
You know you need glasses when you start seeing things in a blur. Or you start getting heachaches if you read to much.\n\nOnly the optican can give you a diffinite answer though
478091
Read what "brucie" had to say.  It's perfect. Although, I will apologize for him since anyone who is not in the field probably won't have a full understanding of what he's talking about, but he nailed it none-the-less, even if you have to use a dictionary!  I'll just help a little, so your high school classmates won't get bored...\n\nA comprehensive eye exam has many steps.\n1. Unaided and aided visual acuities (how well you can see with and without glasses or contacts)\n2. detailed case history including detailed health history and list of medications. (any problems? how long?...)\n3. Objective measurements of the refractive state of the eye and corneal curvature readings. (usually done by automatic machines that take measurements and can accurately estimate your refractive power (your glasses prescription).  the curvature readings are also done with a machine and is the main test for contact lens wearers to make sure they fit right, also looks for abnormal surfaces)\n4.Gross observation of muscle deviations and movement. (checking motility by making you move your eyes in certain ways, left, up and left, down, etc, to make sure youre muscles work together and correctly)\n5. Confrontation fields (checks for possible blind spots or a decrease in your field of vision, as a screening, the most used method is finger counting in peripheral areas of vision and recording any section missed)\n7. Bio-microscopic examination of the anterior portion of the eye. (looking through the microscope at the front portion of your eye including your cornea and lens)\n8. Subjective refractive status ( better 1 or 2) distance and near (the machine that houses all the lenses is called a phoropter, this is how you get a glasses prescription, all those lenses have different powers, and whichever you like best becomes your prescription)\n9. Pressure readings for Glaucoma (some doctors use the "puff of air test" which measures the resistance of your eye to the air and records it with a number. Most use a blue light that attaches to the biomicroscope and actually touches your eye (after they numb it with a drop)and measures the resistance and gives you the number on a dial. Mostly it checks for glaucoma, but other eye conditions can change eye pressure too, that's why it is monitored)\n10. dilation of the pupils (everyone's favorite drops that make the black part of your eye open so the doctor can see into the back of your eye and can last anywhere from 4-24 hours depending on age and strength of drop used, usually 4-6 hrs to get back to normal for your age.)\n11. internal examination for health evaluations (the doctor can look all around in your eye checking for diseases, tears, holes or spots. Most eye diseases can be caught in the early stages with regular dilated eye exams.)\n\nAccording to the National Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, 80% of all blindness can be prevented with a yearly eye exam.\n\nGlaucoma (a disease of the optic nerve) goes unnoticed until you've lost 40% of your peripheral vision.  That's crazy! If glaucoma is detected early enough, you can prevent ANY vision loss.\n\nSorry I wrote a whole book, but I remember high school, and I figured I'd help you out.
635118
Responsible enough. AS young as 12 - 14 years old. Depends on the optometrist and ophthalmologist.