There could be several explanations. Older individuals have smaller pupils, and if you understand photography, the smaller the opening (aperture) in a camera lens, the greater the depth of focus.

Sometimes people put up with more blurriness than someone else is willing to put up with.

Also, there are occasions where people can have far vision in one eye and near vision in the other eye. That is called monovision, and we do that with contact lenses all of the time.

One year intervals are most often recommended, and every two years would be the longest. People will often state that they can still see OK with their glasses and their eyes don’t hurt, so they put off their eye exams.

Sometimes people do not need changes to their glasses when the have their annual eye exams, but more importantly, we have made sure that their eyes are HEALTHY. Most eye diseases have to be quite progressed before the vision is affected.

For example, in glaucoma, a person can lose up to 40% of the retina nerve fibers before even the vision is affected. That is 40% that are gone forever.

Metal eyeglass frames need to have some flexibility. In inexpensive frames, cheap metals like nickel are added.

However they corrode easily and turn green from the acids in the skin.

More expensive frames use better metal combinations that corrode less, or titanium, which does not corrode at all.

Some common lens options are

Transitions
Transitions are lenses that turn dark automatically in the sun and lightens indoors.

Anti-reflective coating
Anti-reflective coatings decrease the reflections seen on lenses, and also let more light through the lens in the process.

High index lenses
High index lenses are made of thinner, lighter materials.

Aspheric lens curves
Aspheric lens curves are variable curves on the front or back sides of lenses that reduce lens aberrations (distortions).

Polarization
Polarized lenses are specials lens tints for sunglasses that significantly reduces glare on shiny objects such as water or chrome.

The medical term for lazy eye is amblyopia. It means that an eye has good health, but has less than normal vision.

Less than normal vision can be caused by an unequal prescription between the two eyes, by an eye that turns in or out (strabismus), or early developmental problems.

There are times when Lazy Eye can be improved with an eye exercise program called vision therapy. Many people confuse eye turns with Lazy Eye, but they are really two different things.

Your eyes can get red for many different reasons. You may have dry eyes, you may have eye allergies, you may have an inflammation such as blepharitis.

Visine has chemicals that temporarily whiten the eyes but don't do anything to solve the cause of the problem.

Each of the above conditions require a different treatment and must be properly diagnosed first. If you have persistent red eyes, you should have your eyes examined.

If you have any question that your child could be having any eye or vision problems, they can be brought in at any age.

If you haven't noticed any vision issues, bringing children in at about Kindergarten age is reasonable.

Be sure when you are comparing the cost that you are comparing apples to apples. Before you make a decision, ask yourself these questions:

For example, if the exam fee is less, do you have access to the same degree of exam depth?

Does the big box center have the most current equipment, retina cameras, visual field equipment?

If service and trust are important to you, would they be equal between the two? 

When you compare frame prices, are you comparing the same frame or a different frame that simply costs less money?

Are you being quoted on the same quality of lenses (which is very important with progressive lenses)?

There may be some situations where saving money by choosing lesser quality might work out, but in other situations higher quality may be worth the extra expense.

An Optometrist (OD) has a 4 year undergraduate degree and an additional 4 years at Optometry college.

Optometrists are qualified to examine eyes, detect eye diseases, treat certain eye diseases, such as infections and glaucoma. An optometrist can write prescriptions for eyeglasses, contact lenses and eye medications.

An Ophthalmologist (MD) has a 4 year undergraduate degree, plus 4 years of medical school, plus an internship, and a residency in Ophthalmology.

An Ophthalmologist can do what an Optometrist can, plus eye surgery.

Some people feel that if they have a vision problem they should see an Ophthalmologist.

However, an Optometrist is trained to detect and diagnose diseases, even diseases that they cannot treat.

At that point, it would be important to refer to the proper specialist.

Ophthalmologists specialize in glaucoma, retinal diseases, corneal diseases, cataracts, neurologic diseases, etc. We have made it a priority to know who the best specialists are so that the patient can be referred to the most appropriate Ophthalmologist.

When people self-refer to an Ophthalmologist or even when they get a recommendation from a friend, they may not end up with the proper specialist.