There are no hard and fast rules, but many eye care professionals agree that their adult patients (ages 40 and up) should get their eyes examined once a year. Younger adults can probably go once every two years. But there are exceptions. You should see your eye doctor if you experience:3

• Eye pain
• Bulging eye
• Decreased vision, even if temporary
• Double vision
• Vision blocked by partially or entirely by dark or blurred shapes
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Unusual or persistent redness
• Unusual pupil size or shape
• Blood in the eye
• Excess tearing
• Injury to an eye, including a blow to the eye or chemicals splashed in the eye
  

These warning signs fall under the category of an emergency. You should contact your eye doctor if there has been a significant change in your eyes or your ability to see. Excessive tearing, itching, and intermittent blurred vision fall into the “change” category, as does any new difficulty you have seeing or focusing on objects, nearby or far away, Stabilizing your vision could prevent it from getting any worse.