How regular eye exams can keep you healthy

Eye exams check for more than just changes in vision. Learn why regular eye exams are so important — for your eyesight and your overall health.

You’ve had your eyes checked in the last five years — do you really need an eye exam this year? The short answer: Yes.

Regular eye exams aren’t just about updating your glasses or contact lens prescription. They’re a key part of protecting your long-term eye health. Even if your eyesight hasn’t changed, your eye doctor will check for signs of other issues that might not have obvious symptoms.

Regular checkups can catch serious vision problems like glaucoma or cataracts early — when they’re easier to treat. And they can also catch other health conditions.

Keep reading to learn what happens during an eye exam, what conditions your doctor is looking for, and how vision insurance can make it all more affordable.

What happens during a routine eye exam

Your eye doctor will perform several tests to check your vision. If you already wear glasses or contact lenses, they'll give you an eye test to see if your current prescription is accurate. If you don't, they’ll decide based on the test results if you need to start.

In addition to your vision, your eye doctor will also be checking the health of your eyes. They will measure your eye pressure to screen for glaucoma. They may put drops in your eyes to dilate your pupils. This makes your pupils large enough so they can examine the back of your eye.¹ That area is full of tiny blood vessels, nerves and other tissues that often reveal the first signs of damage or disease. ²Or your eye doctor may use a machine that can take pictures of your retinas without dilating your pupils.³

The doctor might also test your side vision and how your eyes focus and move together. These tests provide a comprehensive picture of your eye health and help spot early warning signs of other chronic conditions.

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Are eye exams covered by insurance?

With supplemental vision insurance, regular eye exams are either partly or fully covered. Insurance companies may offer a wide variety of vision insurance plans that can help cover routine eye exams and help pay for glasses, frames and contacts.

What vision problems can an eye doctor spot during an exam?

Eye exams help uncover several serious vision issues. And eye doctors often catch them before you notice any symptoms. That’s because many of these eye diseases develop so gradually that it’s hard for people to tell when they’re slowly losing their eyesight.

Here are some common chronic eye conditions your eye doctor will look for:

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of vision loss for people over 50. AMD affects the central part of your retina, called the macula, in the back of your eye. AMD can make reading and recognizing faces difficult.⁴
Cataracts cause clouding of the eye’s lens, leading to blurry vision and glare. They develop slowly. But eventually most people need surgery to remove them so they can see more clearly again.⁵
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. Diabetes is when your blood sugar is too high. If it stays high, it can damage the blood vessels in the retina. Diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss if it’s left untreated. But regular eye exams can help prevent serious problems.⁶
Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” because it damages the optic nerve gradually, usually without symptoms until it's so advanced and you've lost your sight. Eye pressure tests during exams help catch glaucoma early.⁷

Yearly eye exams are key to catching these conditions early and getting treatment plans in place.

Even if you don’t have a family history of eye conditions, regular eye exams are important. A vision plan can make scheduling them easier. Find plans near you.

What other health conditions can an eye doctor catch?

The eyes can reveal the state of your overall health too. During an eye exam, an eye doctor can also spot signs of these diseases:⁸

Certain cancers, like skin cancer that affects the skin around the eyes or melanoma that can show up on the eye
Diabetes, which damages the blood vessels at the back of the eye
High blood pressure, which causes blood vessels in the back of the eye to bend in unusual ways
High cholesterol, which can show up as deposits in the retina
Thyroid disease, which may cause the eyes to bulge slightly

If your eye doctor notices anything, they can get in touch with your regular provider so you can get treated early.

How often should you get an eye exam?

That depends on your age, health and other risk factors. The American Optometric Association recommends the following eye exam schedule:⁹

At least once for children between ages 3 to 5
Once a year for children ages 6 and 17
At least every 2 years for adults ages 18 to 64
Every year for adults ages 65 and older

Those are just general recommendations. You may need to get your eyes checked more often depending on certain risk factors, including:⁹

You have diabetes
You have a family history of serious eye conditions, like glaucoma
You wear contact lenses or are very near-sighted

So now that you know the benefits of regular eye exams, make an appointment soon if it’s been a while. Your eyesight — not to mention your overall health — is too important not to.

Curious how vision insurance can help you save your eyesight and money? Explore plans available online or call 844-211-7730 to talk to a licensed insurance agent.

For informational purposes only. This information is compiled by UnitedHealthcare and does not diagnose problems or recommend specific treatment. Services and medical technologies referenced herein may not be covered under your plan. Please consult directly with your primary care physician if you need medical advice.

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic. “Eye exam.” Updated August 5, 2024. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/eye-exam
American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Your eyes could be the windows to your health.” April 21, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/your-eyes-could-be-windows-to-your-health
National Library of Medicine. “Recent advances in retinal imaging and diagnostics.” Accessed August 11, 2025. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7041830/
American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Understanding macular degeneration.” October 1, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amd-macular-degeneration
American Academy of Ophthalmology. “What are cataracts?” October 9, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts
National Eye Institute. “Diabetic retinopathy.” Last updated: December 10, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/diabetic-retinopathy
American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Understanding glaucoma: symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment,” October 29, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-glaucoma
American Academy of Ophthalmology. “20 surprising health problems an eye exam can catch.” April 17, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/surprising-health-conditions-eye-exam-detects
American Optometric Association. “Comprehensive eye exams.” Accessed July 29, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/eye-exams