Many people postpone eye examinations until they notice a significant change in their vision. This is exactly like visiting the dentist—in both cases, we do not believe in the power of prevention. Meanwhile, vision problems are one of the afflictions plaguing modern societies.
If there are no earlier indications, a child should undergo the first preventive eye examination between 2 and 3 years of age. Subsequent eye examinations should be performed during each routine health check-up.
Adults are generally advised to have their vision checked once every two years. This recommendation applies to individuals who do not have vision problems. Those who already wear glasses or contact lenses should see an ophthalmologist at least once a year, even when they experience no symptoms or deterioration in visual acuity. If the refractive error is stable, such a visit should be treated as preventive—particularly if there is a family history of eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, corneal dystrophy, or keratoconus. During a routine eye examination, the ophthalmologist should be informed of this and more detailed examinations should be scheduled (intraocular pressure measurement, fundus examination, and others).
Individuals over 40 years of age should also have their vision checked once a year. This is when the first symptoms of presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness, appear. Presbyopia is associated with progressive stiffening of the lens and weakening ability of the eye to accommodate (the accommodative muscles become progressively weaker). These changes cannot be prevented—they result from the natural aging of our body. Even the healthiest lifestyle will not prevent them.
Many people avoid eye examinations out of fear of being told they need glasses.
This is a completely irrational approach. Modern ophthalmology can offer patients not only glasses, but also contact lenses and numerous methods of laser vision correction as well as the option of refractive lens exchange or phakic intraocular lens implantation.
It can be said that there is no refractive error that modern ophthalmology cannot address in such a way that the patient achieves maximally satisfactory visual comfort. The first and most important condition is to visit an ophthalmologist and have your vision examined.
Admit it—how many times have you postponed a visit to the ophthalmologist? Are you waiting until you feel you really must go because the image has suddenly started to blur? That is probably our national sport, is it not? Just like with the dentist, we often completely ignore the power of prevention. Yet our eyes are absolutely priceless! At SwissLaser, your Laser Vision Correction Clinic in Warsaw and Krakow, we want to convince you that regular check-ups are not an unpleasant obligation, but an investment in quality of life. Choose Swiss precision and our international experience, and we will show you what it is like to see the world anew—sharply and without limitations. Ready for a change of perspective?
What will you learn from the text below?
- When should your child have their eyes examined for the first time? It is best to do this between 2 and 3 years of age, and then ensure examinations during school health check-ups.
- How often should we, as adults, have our eyes checked? If you have no complaints, a visit once every two years is sufficient, but after 40 years of age or with vision correction—definitely once a year.
- Why does the doctor ask about your family medical history? Because conditions such as glaucoma or cataract are a red flag signaling the need for detailed and regular diagnostics.
- What actually happens to your vision after 40? Presbyopia begins, or age-related farsightedness, caused by natural stiffening of the lens.
- Is there a refractive error that modern ophthalmology cannot handle? No! Thanks to laser correction and modern lenses, we can achieve maximum visual comfort—even with complex refractive errors.
2. Standards for Eye Examinations at Different Ages
First preventive eye examination in children
Let us remember the youngest! Do you know that it is crucial to catch potential refractive errors early? That is precisely why the first examination should take place when the child is between 2 and 3 years old. This is the moment when we can correct refractive errors before they affect the development of spatial vision. What next? Simply ensure screening examinations—those we commonly call health check-ups.
Recommendations for adults without vision problems
Are you healthy as a horse and do not feel anything is wrong? Excellent! Nevertheless, visit us once every two years. That is the minimum. You know, prevention. We want to see that your eyes are doing as well as you think they are!
3. Vision Under Special Supervision: When to Have Your Eyes Examined Once a Year?
Individuals correcting vision (glasses or contact lenses)
Do you wear glasses or use contact lenses? In that case, a visit to the ophthalmologist at least once a year is your mandatory calendar appointment. Why? Because even if you think “nothing has changed,” we need to check the stability of the refractive error and ensure that your eyes tolerate wearing lenses well.
Influence of family history
Have there been cases of glaucoma, cataract, or corneal problems such as keratoconus in your family? This is a signal that you must be particularly vigilant! If so, treat the annual visit as an absolute priority. This allows us to refer you in time for detailed examinations, such as intraocular pressure measurement or fundus examination. This is our protective shield!
4. Age 40+ and Presbyopia
Eye examination after 40 years of age
Everyone over 40 years of age, attention! Check-up once a year is the new rule for you. This is precisely the age when this magical, though irritating, process begins: presbyopia, or simply age-related farsightedness.
Mechanism of changes
What happens? Your natural lens simply becomes more rigid, and the eye muscles—weakened. To put it plainly, the eye loses its elasticity and ability to quickly focus sharply at near distances. No, a healthy lifestyle will not stop this; it is simply natural aging.
Expert Statement: “People often panic when they suddenly have to hold the newspaper farther away to read something. I want to reassure them: presbyopia affects everyone, but today it is no sentence! Thanks to innovative methods such as PresbyMAX or refractive lens exchange, we can restore vision at various distances. This is a real return to full independence, without reading glasses. This is exactly what we want to give our patients over 40 years of age,” says Dr. med. univ. (Vienna), FEBO Victor Derhartunian, Chief Refractive Surgeon at SwissLaser Warsaw and Krakow.
6. Modern Ophthalmology: Solutions for Every Refractive Error
Are you afraid you will hear “you need glasses”? Stop worrying! This is truly irrational now! Today’s ophthalmology is a completely different world.
Advanced treatment options
Yes, we have ultra-modern glasses and comfortable contact lenses. But we go much further! We focus on:
- Laser vision correction—a safe, precise, and nearly painless procedure that takes only a few minutes (the risk of complications is minimal—below 1%!).
- Refractive lens exchange—an excellent solution for large refractive errors or for individuals with presbyopia.
- Phakic intraocular lens implantation (ICL)—when the refractive error is too large to correct with laser, we give you superpowers in the form of an additional, internal lens.
We can confidently say: there is no refractive error we cannot handle.
8. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
| Does laser vision correction hurt? | In short: no. We use topical anesthetic drops, so you will only feel slight pressure and possibly momentary discomfort. That is all. |
| How quickly will I recover after the procedure? | Surprisingly quickly! Many people see clearly the same day. We typically provide 3 days of medical leave, but you will return to daily activities almost immediately. |
| When is laser correction not possible? | We do not operate on individuals under 18 years of age (the eye must be mature) or those with unstable refractive errors or specific problems, such as an excessively thin cornea. |
| What makes SwissLaser the best choice? | Our strength is Dr. Victor Derhartunian—a surgeon with international experience who trains other surgeons himself, combined with leading laser technology and Swiss standards of precision. |
