Patients may seek a comprehensive medical eye evaluation for a variety of reasons. A comprehensive medical eye evaluation is recommended for patients who have not been examined for a significant period of time by an ophthalmologist or who are being seen for the first time. Recommended intervals between examinations vary with age and risk factors.

A through ophthalmologic evaluation can uncover common abnormalities of the visual system and related structures, as well as less common but extremely serious ones, such as ocular tumors. Such an evaluation can also uncover evidence of many forms of systemic disease with ophthalmic manifestations.

All patients, particularly those with risk factors for disease, are re-examined periodically to prevent or minimize visual loss by detecting and treating disease in its early stages. Patients in whom ocular diseases are identified require periodic comprehensive examinations for optimally monitoring and treating their conditions.

With appropriate intervention, potentially blinding diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy often have a favorable outcome. Studies have indicated that up to 40% of legal blindness found among nursing home residents, in both urban and rural communities, could have been prevented or ameliorated by appropriate ophthalmologic care.

The rationale for performing periodic comprehensive medical eye examinations in adults without known ocular conditions or risk factors is to detect ocular disease that is prevalent in the adult population in order to provide early treatment and thereby preserve visual function and to detect signs of systemic diseases which could lead to illness or premature death..

Comprehensive medical eye evaluations are also performed periodically to evaluate new symptoms and monitor patients with previously identified eye conditions or risk factors. The public health impact of eye disease is significant because vision affects daily functioning. Preserving eyesight through effective eye care and treatment of ocular disease enhances quality of life and improves physical function. Several studies have documented that the improvement in visual function that occurs as a result of treatment of ocular disorders is accompanied by improvement in life satisfaction, mental health, home activities, and community activities. Vision plays an important role in mobility and in preventing falls and improved eye care has been shown to be an effective means of preventing disability or enhancing function for those at risk. Cataract surgery in older drivers has been shown to reduce subsequent motor vehicle accident rate.