Eye Health FAQs

Understanding your vision health is the first step to helping prevent vision loss before it starts. So check out our answers to the most common questions about vision health below.

• What are the most common eye diseases that cause vision loss?
• I have 20/20 vision. Why do I need to think about vision loss?
• How often should I get my eyes examined?
• I don’t have a Doctor of Optometry. How can I find one?
• What can I do to help reduce my risk of vision loss?

What are the most common eye diseases that cause vision loss?

The most common eye diseases that cause vision loss are age-related macular degeneration (commonly known as AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. Learn more about these and other conditions that can cause vision lossOpens a new window.

I have 20/20 vision. Why do I need to think about vision loss?

Many serious eye diseases have no symptoms, so even someone who has 20/20 vision may be at risk. Regular, complete eye exams are the only way to know if your eyes really are as healthy as you think.

How often should I get my eyes examined?

The suggested frequency of an eye exam depends on how old you are. Find your age below alongside the corresponding frequency for eye exams as recommended by Doctors of Optometry CanadaOpens a new window. When in doubt, remember that a regular, yearly eye exam is always the best way to go.

• Birth to 24 months old: Infants should have their first eye exam between six and nine months of age.
• Two to five years old: A child should have at least one eye exam during this period.
• Six to 19 years old: Annual eye exams are recommended.
• 20 to 64 years old: Eye exams should take place approximately every two years.
• 65 years old and over: Annual eye exams are recommended.

I don’t have a Doctor of Optometry. How can I find one?

Don’t have a Doctor of Optometry? No problem. Use our Doctor of Optometry Locator tool to find one in your area.

During Vision Health Month, participating Doctors of Optometry across Canada are donating $2 from every eye exam they conduct to support vital CNIB services for Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. All the more reason to book your appointment today!

What can I do to help reduce my risk of vision loss?

The best way to reduce your risk of vision loss is to have regular, complete eye exams from a Doctor of Optometry. But simple lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, exercising regularly and wearing UV-protection sunglasses year-round can also go a long way to helping you maintain your vision health.

Check out our top 10 tips for vision health, below...

1. Have your eyes examined regularly by a Doctor of Optometry.
   Your eyes need regular check-ups, just like the rest of your body. Early detection of an eye disease is critical to ensuring you can receive treatment that could save your sight.
2. Quit for your eyes.
   People who smoke are three to four times more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the number one cause of vision loss in Canada. Quitting now can reduce your risk.
3. Get healthy.
   Research shows that a diet high in fats and low in the nutrients found in fresh vegetables may increase the risk of developing AMD. What’s more, excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle and high blood pressure are all risk factors for common eye diseases like AMD and diabetic retinopathy.
4. Protect your eyes from sunlight.
   Exposure to UV rays from the sun puts you at a higher risk of developing AMD and early cataracts. Wear a hat with a brim, and choose sunglasses that provide at least 99% protection from both UVA and UVB rays whenever you’re outdoors.
5. Wear eye protection.
   When playing sports or working with tools, protect your eyes with Canadian Standards Association-approved safety glasses or goggles. You don't need a prescription for them, and most hardware and sporting goods stores carry a good selection.
6. Consider vitamin supplements.
   If you’ve been diagnosed with dry AMD, talk to your Doctor of Optometry about using a special formulation of high-dosage vitamin supplements that has been shown to be effective in lowering the risk of developing the advanced form of AMD.
7. Prevent diabetes.
   Most people with diabetes are at a high risk of developing a serious eye disease called diabetic retinopathy as well as other vision problems.
8. Manage your diabetes.
   Most people with diabetes are at a high risk of developing a serious eye disease called diabetic retinopathy as well as other vision problems.
9. Only drink alcohol in moderation.
   Heavy drinking of alcoholic beverages is a known risk factor for early cataracts and to increase blood sugar. Keep drinking to a minimum and you’ll help reduce your risk.
10. Take the Eyes Are for Life Quiz.
    How much do you know about your vision health? Take the Eyes Are for Life Quiz now to learn more about the risk factors for the most common eye diseases in Canada.

* Please note that the information provided on this page and throughout this site is for educational purposes only, and is not to be taken in lieu of medical advice and regular eye exams from a Doctor of Optometry. CNIB does not provide medical advice, and strongly encourages you to visit a Doctor of Optometry to discuss your own unique vision health.