If you have ever searched “how often should I get an eye test,” you have probably landed on the same answer: every two years. It is a reasonable rule of thumb, but it significantly oversimplifies a question that genuinely depends on your age, your health, your family history, and what is happening with your eyes right now.
At Prime Optometrists Auburn, we see a lot of patients who have waited far too long between examinations, not because they were negligent, but because they assumed they would notice if something was wrong. The problem is that many of the most serious eye conditions develop without any symptoms until significant damage has already occurred.
What Medicare Says vs What Clinicians Recommend
Medicare Australia funds a comprehensive optometry consultation once every three years for adults under 65, and once every 12 months for adults 65 and over. These are the intervals at which Medicare will pay a benefit, they are not a clinical recommendation, and they are not a ceiling.
Many people interpret Medicare's schedule as a signal of how often they “need” to go. But Medicare funding intervals are set based on population-level cost modelling, not individual clinical need. A 35-year-old with high myopia, a family history of glaucoma, and contact lens wear absolutely should not wait three years between eye tests, even though Medicare will only fund one in that period.
For full details on bulk billing and Medicare eligibility, see our guide: What Is a Bulk Billed Eye Test and Am I Eligible?
A Simple Guide by Age Group
Children (Under 18)
We recommend a first eye test before school (ages 3–5), and then annually throughout the school years. Vision is closely tied to learning, a child who cannot see the board clearly, struggles with near work, or has an eye that is not developing normally needs to be detected early. Annual testing is the only way to catch problems at the right time.
Once myopia is detected in a child, annual monitoring is essential, not just for updating the prescription, but for assessing the rate of progression and determining whether myopia control treatment is warranted. A prescription that has jumped significantly in 12 months is a clinical signal that action is needed.
Children's eye tests are bulk billed under Medicare. See our article on signs your child may need glasses for what to watch for between appointments.
Adults (18–64)
For healthy adults with no significant risk factors, an eye test every two years is a reasonable baseline, slightly more frequent than Medicare's three-year interval, but consistent with Optometry Australia's general guidance.
However, many adults in this group should go annually, including:
- Contact lens wearers (annual lens health checks are standard care)
- People with diabetes or pre-diabetes
- Those with a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration
- High myopes (prescription of -6.00 or more)
- People taking medications that affect the eyes, including hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), used for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, which requires regular retinal monitoring
- Anyone experiencing regular eye strain, headaches, or visual discomfort
Adults 65 and Over
For adults 65 and older, annual eye tests are both Medicare-supported and clinically important. The risk of glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic eye disease all increase significantly with age. Many of these conditions have no symptoms in their early stages, they are detected on examination, not because the patient noticed something wrong.
For this age group, the examination also includes monitoring for changes that can affect driving safety, which is an important quality-of-life consideration. Book your annual eye test in Auburn, it is fully bulk billed under Medicare for patients 65 and over.
When You Should Go More Often Than Medicare Covers
Regardless of age, there are situations where annual or more frequent eye tests are clinically warranted, even if Medicare will only fund one in a given period:
- Diabetes: Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of preventable blindness in Australia. Annual retinal examination is standard. If you have diabetes and are not having annual eye tests, please book one now.
- Glaucoma suspects: If a previous eye test has flagged elevated intraocular pressure, optic nerve changes, or visual field defects, more frequent monitoring is essential. Glaucoma progresses silently, by the time you notice vision loss, significant nerve damage has already occurred.
- High myopia: A prescription above -6.00 dioptres is associated with significantly increased lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Annual retinal checks are recommended for all high myopes.
- Hydroxychloroquine use: This medication, used for autoimmune conditions, can cause irreversible retinal toxicity. Annual monitoring with OCT imaging is the standard of care for anyone on long-term hydroxychloroquine therapy.
- Family history of early macular degeneration: If a parent or sibling developed macular degeneration before 65, your personal risk is elevated. More frequent monitoring allows for earlier detection and lifestyle interventions.
“But I Can See Fine”, Why This Isn't Enough
This is the single most common reason people give for skipping an eye test. And it is understandable, if nothing seems wrong, why go?
The answer is that many of the most serious eye conditions develop without any subjective symptoms. Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” precisely because it destroys peripheral vision gradually, in areas the brain compensates for automatically. By the time a person notices glaucoma affecting their vision, a significant and irreversible amount of nerve damage has already occurred.
Similarly, early macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal holes can all be detected on examination well before they produce symptoms. The point of regular eye tests is not to fix what you can already feel, it is to find what you cannot yet feel.
“Every week I find something significant in a patient who was certain their eyes were fine. Elevated pressure, early disc changes, retinal findings, none of it had caused symptoms yet. That's exactly when we want to find it.”
, Dr Zobaida Tahiri, Therapeutically Endorsed Optometrist, Auburn NSW
What Can Change Between Eye Tests?
Even in the absence of disease, a number of things change between eye tests that affect your day-to-day vision and comfort:
- Prescription drift: Gradual changes to your glasses or contact lens prescription often go unnoticed because they happen slowly. But an out-of-date prescription is one of the most common causes of headaches, eye strain, squinting, and end-of-day fatigue. Updating it is a simple fix with a significant quality-of-life impact.
- Presbyopia onset: In the mid-40s, most people begin to notice difficulty focusing at near, reading menus, phone screens, or fine print. This is presbyopia, and it changes progressively through the 40s and 50s. Regular prescription updates keep your vision comfortable as this progresses.
- Dry eye progression: Dry eye is progressive and worsens with age and screen time. Regular eye tests allow us to monitor tear film quality and adjust treatment before symptoms become debilitating.
How to Know When You're Due
The simplest approach: if you cannot remember when you last had an eye test, you are probably overdue. Here is a quick self-check:
- Do you squint to read signs, menus, or screens?
- Do you get headaches, particularly after close work or screen time?
- Has it been more than two years since your last examination?
- Do you have diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, or take medications that affect the eyes?
- Are you over 65 and not having annual tests?
If you answered yes to any of the above, it is time to book.
Book Your Next Eye Test in Auburn NSW
Prime Optometrists is located in Auburn NSW 2144, serving patients from Berala, Lidcombe, Granville, Parramatta, Merrylands, Regents Park, and across Western Sydney. All eligible Medicare patients are bulk billed, there is no out-of-pocket cost for the examination itself.
Book your eye test online today. It takes a few minutes to book, around 25 minutes for the appointment, and potentially a great deal of peace of mind to know exactly what is going on with your eyes.
Not sure if you are eligible for bulk billing? Our guide covers everything: What Is a Bulk Billed Eye Test and Am I Eligible?