# Get your eyes checked Published by Pawel Jozefiak. [About this project](https://healthy100.jock.pl/about/), [How we check sources](https://healthy100.jock.pl/methodology/) - Canonical: https://healthy100.jock.pl/check-your-eyes/ - Language: en - First published: 2026-09-27 - Evidence checked: 2026-09-28, using AI-assisted source verification - Clinical review: Not clinically reviewed - Number 61 of 100 in the list: https://healthy100.jock.pl/#check-your-eyes Almost half of vision impairment worldwide could have been prevented or is yet to be treated; a check finds problems early. **The number:** At least 1 billion people have vision impairment that was preventable or is still unaddressed ([WHO, 2026](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment)) ## The evidence - Evidence grade: B. Grade B: consistent large cohort studies, with some trial evidence. - Basis: WHO global vision impairment data and NHS screening guidance; evidence for glaucoma screening in adults without symptoms is insufficient - Impact: 54/100. The impact score is an editorial prioritization heuristic for the general list, not a validated estimate of your personal risk. ## Why it matters WHO reports that at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment, and that for at least 1 billion of them it could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed. The leading causes, refractive errors and cataract, are both correctable. For conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, WHO says early detection and timely treatment are crucial to avoid irreversible vision loss. ## How to do it 1. Book a sight test if it has been more than 2 years, or sooner if your optician advises it; 2 years is the usual NHS interval in England and other countries differ. 2. If you have diabetes, attend diabetic eye screening as well: the NHS invites people with diabetes aged 12 and over every 1 or 2 years. 3. Treat that screening as separate from an optician appointment, because the NHS says one does not replace the other. 4. If you are prescribed glasses, wear them; if cataracts are found, talk with your eye specialist about whether and when surgery makes sense for your daily life, including its benefits and risks. 5. Mention glaucoma in a parent, sibling or child: in England that qualifies you for free tests from age 40. ## Talk to a clinician first Sudden vision loss, new flashes or floaters, eye pain or double vision need urgent assessment rather than a routine appointment. Routine glaucoma screening in adults without symptoms is not established, so bring symptoms and family history to the appointment. ## Putting it into practice ### Start now - 1 minute: Think of any recent vision change and when it began; sudden vision loss needs urgent help, not a routine booking. - 5 minutes: Contact an optician to ask when your next sight test is due; mention any vision change so they can judge urgency. - 15 minutes: Gather previous eye results and family glaucoma history; if you have diabetes, check the separate retinal screening invitation too. ### What it looks like - Ask your optician when your next sight test is due based on your eyes and health. - If you have diabetes, keep the retinal screening appointment as well as your ordinary sight test. ### Common mistakes - Diabetic eye screening does not replace an optician's test, so keep track of both appointments. - Sudden vision loss or new flashes and floaters need urgent assessment, so do not wait for a routine check. ### A structured start **Keep eye care connected** 1. Confirm the sight-test interval recommended for you and book if due. 2. Tell the clinician about symptoms, diabetes and family glaucoma history. 3. Discuss the result and options rather than accepting treatment automatically. 4. If you have diabetic eye screening with dilating drops, arrange transport because you must not drive afterwards. ### Trusted how-to guides - [How often can I have a free NHS sight test?](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/how-often-can-i-have-a-free-nhs-eye-test/), NHS - [Diabetic eye screening](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/diabetic-eye-screening/), NHS ## In Czechia In Czechia, at the preventive check your GP recommends a preventive eye exam every 4 years from age 45 up to 61. [Národní zdravotnický informační portál (NZIP)](https://www.nzip.cz/clanek/441-vseobecne-preventivni-prohlidky-dospelych), checked 2026-09-28 ## In Netherlands In the Netherlands, people with diabetes have an eye exam within 3 months of diagnosis. With no damage, the next check is often after 2 or 3 years; with a little damage, new photos are taken after 1 year. [Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap, Thuisarts](https://www.thuisarts.nl/schade-aan-ogen-bij-diabetes/ik-heb-diabetes-en-krijg-onderzoek-van-mijn-ogen), checked 2026-09-28 ## Sources - [Blindness and vision impairment](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment), WHO, 2026 (Tier 1 guideline) - [Diabetic eye screening](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/diabetic-eye-screening/), NHS, 2024 (Tier 1 guideline) - [How often can I have a free NHS sight test?](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/how-often-can-i-have-a-free-nhs-eye-test/), NHS, 2023 (Tier 1 guideline) - [Free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/), NHS, 2023 (Tier 1 guideline) --- General health information, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Personalization changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess your medical risks. Follow the cautions and consult a qualified clinician when needed. Report an error: meet@jock.pl Reuse: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/