... it depends...

At the latest, when you yourself notice that your vision is no longer sharp, your eyes should be checked by a doctor, optician or optometrist. However, there are some other symptoms for which an eye examination is useful. These include headaches, rapid fatigue when reading, pressure or pain in or around the eyes, learning difficulties, concentration problems, intermittent double vision, tension in the shoulder and neck area, dizziness, visual stimulus overload, or in the case of obvious squinting of the eyes.

Children should see an ophthalmologist for the initial examination.

In newborns, the eyes are checked immediately after birth. Very serious diseases are already examined and detected here. Subsequently, the pediatrician checks the eyes during routine examinations. If the pediatrician detects any abnormalities, he or she refers the child to an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist determines the next steps and the frequency of the check-ups. Normally, these are between 3 and 6 months, since the child's eye can change rapidly due to growth. Shortly before starting school is another important time for a detailed examination of the eyes. We also recommend having the muscular functions of the eyes checked by a specialist. Normally, annual checks of the eyes are then sufficient.

Adults between the ages of 20 and 40 should have their eyes tested approximately every two years.

The eyes are considered fully grown after the age of 20 or 21. If there are no symptoms, checks every 2 years are usually sufficient. The checks can also be carried out by an optician or optometrist.

From the age of 40, annual controls are recommended

Since the risk of eye diseases increases from the age of 40, but also the ability to focus close up decreases (presbyopia or presbyopia), annual checks by the optician or optometrist are recommended. These may also perform examinations with regard to eye health and refer to the ophthalmologist in case of doubt.