Department of Ophthalmology
Comprehensive Eye Care
 Patients can come to the Eye Institute for routine eye care as well as specialized care. During a routine eye exam, an eye doctor reviews your medical history and completes a series of tests to determine the health of your eyes. The information from an eye exam may lead to prescriptions or medical procedures.
Eye examinations should take place periodically. The faculty of the WVU Eye Institute recommend the following guidelines:
- All children should have their eyes checked by age three. A family history of childhood vision problems, a wandering eye, crossed eyes, or other problems warrant earlier attention.
- Before the age of 20, as recommended by a pediatrician or other physician.
- Between the ages of 20-40, every five years, unless there are visual changes, pain, flashes of light, new floaters or tearing, or if the eye is injured.
- Between the ages of 40-64, every two to four years. Over age 65, every one to two years.
- African-Americans are at greater risk for glaucoma, and should have eye examinations every three to five years before the age of 40, and every two years after age 40.
Persons with diabetes are at risk for several eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. These individuals should have eye examinations every year.
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