How we set your exam schedule
We do not apply the same recall interval to every patient. After your exam, your optometrist reviews your findings — retinal imaging, OCT, eye pressure, family history, systemic health — and tells you exactly when to come back and why.
This is a clinical decision, not an administrative one.
Exam frequency by age
Children (under 20)
- First exam: between 6 and 9 months of age
- Second exam: before starting school (age 3-5)
- After that: every year
Children's vision develops rapidly. Conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye misalignment), and myopia are most treatable when caught early — and children rarely report symptoms themselves. OHIP covers one exam per year for children under 20.
See When should kids have their first eye exam? for more.
Young adults (20 to 39)
- No risk factors: every two years
- Contact lens wearers: annually
- Diabetes, family history of eye disease, or new symptoms: annually or as recommended
Most people in this age group have stable vision and low risk of eye disease. But this is also the group most likely to skip exams entirely — and the group where early myopia progression, keratoconus, and systemic conditions like diabetes can first be detected through an eye exam.
Adults (40 to 64)
- Standard: every one to two years
- Diabetes or high blood pressure: annually (see our approach for these patients)
- Family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration: annually
- Early findings detected: as recommended by your optometrist
This is the decade when presbyopia develops, glaucoma risk starts climbing, and early macular or cataract changes may appear. None of these cause symptoms in early stages. We use retinal imaging and OCT to detect them before they affect your vision.
Seniors (65+)
- Standard: at least once a year
- Active conditions being monitored: every 6 to 12 months
OHIP covers one exam every 18 months for this age group, but we recommend annual visits. The risk of glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy increases significantly with age, and year-over-year comparisons of retinal imaging are one of the most effective tools we have for catching progression.
Risk factors that increase exam frequency
Regardless of age, we may recommend more frequent exams if you have:
- Diabetes — the leading cause of preventable blindness in working-age adults. We monitor retinal blood vessels at every visit.
- High blood pressure — damages retinal vessels gradually and asymptomatically
- Family history of glaucoma — first-degree relatives have a significantly higher risk
- Family history of macular degeneration — early detection allows monitoring and intervention
- Previous eye surgery (LASIK, cataract, transplant) — ongoing monitoring of the surgical outcome
- High myopia (above -6.00) — increased risk of retinal detachment and macular changes
- Contact lens wear — annual assessment of corneal health and fit
OHIP coverage and exam costs in Ontario
| Age group | OHIP coverage | Our recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Children under 20 | One exam per year | Annually |
| Adults 20-64 (no conditions) | Not covered | Every 1-2 years |
| Adults 20-64 (diabetes, glaucoma, etc.) | Covered on defined schedule | Annually or more |
| Seniors 65+ | One exam every 18 months | Annually |
We bill OHIP directly for eligible patients. For adults who are not OHIP-eligible, the comprehensive exam fee is $198. Many employer insurance plans cover the cost. See our fees and pricing page for full details.
Why "every two years" is not always enough
The standard two-year interval is a reasonable starting point for low-risk adults. But eye disease does not follow a schedule. Diabetic retinopathy can progress from treatable to sight-threatening in under a year. Glaucoma can cause irreversible peripheral vision loss between visits. Early macular changes caught at 12 months may be manageable; the same changes caught at 24 months may not be.
When we set a shorter interval, it is because the risk of missing something meaningful is higher than the cost of coming in sooner.
Related
Not sure when your next exam should be?
We set your recall based on what we find during your exam — not a generic schedule. Book in and we will tell you when to come back.
Prefer to talk first? Call or text us at 416-703-2797.
Last reviewed: March 30, 2026