Eye Tests: What To Do
A routine sight test, which also screens for eye disease and some general health conditions.
Last revised
Glaucoma and early diabetic damage cause no symptoms, so the test finds things you cannot notice yourself.
Key takeaways
- Recommended interval: at least every 2 years, or as advised
- Free NHS sight tests: under 16, over 60, on certain benefits, with diabetes or glaucoma risk
- Most useful single change: Book a test every two years even if your sight seems fine.
- Commonest mistake: Skipping tests because you can still see well.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Do
- Book a test every two years even if your sight seems fine
- Check whether you qualify for a free NHS test
- Take your glasses and a list of medicines
- Mention any family history of glaucoma, which raises your risk
Do not
- Skipping tests because you can still see well
- Buying ready-made glasses instead of being tested
- Ignoring gradual changes in vision
The figures behind the list
Each item above follows from these, published in the guidance named at the foot of the page.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Recommended interval | at least every 2 years, or as advised |
| Free NHS sight tests | under 16, over 60, on certain benefits, with diabetes or glaucoma risk |
| Also detects | signs of diabetes, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol |
| Children | should be tested even without complaints |
Where to go next
- The Evidence on Eye Tests, Without the Hype
- Making Sense of Eye Tests
- Eye Tests — the reference entry
- Glaucoma: What Published Guidance Supports
- The Evidence on Cataracts, Without the Hype
When to get help
Seek same-day help for sudden vision loss, a curtain or shadow across vision, a sudden increase in floaters or flashes, double vision, or a painful red eye with vision change. These are emergencies and should not wait for a routine appointment.
Where this comes from
- NHS — Eye tests for adults
- College of Optometrists — eye examinations
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.