An online eye test can be used to evaluate your visual acuity and renew a prescription, but it cannot replace a thorough, in-person eye exam with a physician. Online tests are unable to identify major eye health concerns, although they can offer some basic information.
Online eye test
There may be several steps in an online eye test. To complete the portion of the exam that assesses your distant vision, you will need a computer and a comfortable place to sit. Additionally, some examinations require a smartphone to use an app. You may likely need to wear your prescription contacts or glasses throughout the exam.
Certain websites provide exams only to assess your visual acuity. It will be your responsibility to consult an eye doctor if the findings indicate that you may have an issue.
Depending on the outcomes of your tests, other websites provide prescriptions for contacts and glasses. Your state’s eye doctor will review your results and provide you with a prescription via email. After that, glasses can be ordered online. You can’t receive an eye prescription this way in every state.
Prescription drug websites will charge a fee. Most likely, it won’t be covered by your health or vision insurance. Seeing an eye doctor with your insurance may be less expensive. See what is included in your plan.
What online eye test is unable to detect
General eye health: Eye diseases that need a physical examination, such as glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration, cannot be identified by online testing.
Other medical conditions: Diabetes, excessive blood pressure, and even brain tumors can occasionally be detected during an in-person eye exam.
Fit of contact lenses: To guarantee that contact lenses fit correctly, an eye specialist must do a physical examination of your eyes. An incorrect fit may result in infection or discomfort.
When a face-to-face eye examination is required?
- If you have a family history of eye diseases like diabetes or glaucoma, you should schedule a visit.
- A full examination with an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
- Do you have any eye discomfort, injuries, or infection symptoms?
- They are looking for their first time wearing contact lenses.
- Require a more potent or intricate prescription.
- Have a query or issue that calls for the knowledge of an eye care specialist?
What may be checked by an online eye test?
- Visual acuity: Your ability to see well at different distances, usually with a Snellen-style eye chart on a screen.
- For prescribing glasses or contact lenses, refractive errors can offer an initial assessment of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. In some states, certain online eye test may qualify for prescription renewal; nevertheless, the findings must be reviewed by a physician.
- Astigmatism: To detect this frequent refractive problem, many tests employ certain patterns.
- Color blindness: To check for color vision impairments, the majority of online examinations use color plate charts.
- Contrast sensitivity: Certain examinations assess your capacity to discriminate between different contrast levels.
Are Vision Tests Taken Online Accurate?
Regarding the accuracy of online eye test, doctors cannot agree. Additionally, because they are still relatively new, researchers haven’t thoroughly examined them to see how they stack up against an examination you would receive from your eye doctor.
One thing to bear in mind is that you may not receive an accurate score if you take the exam incorrectly. Furthermore, those who require a strong prescription for eyeglasses are not the target audience for the exams.
How frequently should your eyes be examined?
- Regular eye exams should be performed on adults who do not currently have any known eye conditions.
- At least three times throughout this time between the ages of 20 and 39
- Once every two to three years, beyond the age of forty
- Every one to two years after the age of 65.
- An optician should frequently examine children’s eyes:
Initial assessment: no later than 2 to 3 1/2 years of age- Second test: before starting school
Then, even if they don’t have any visible eye issues, they should visit their eye doctor every two years to make sure that any early warning signs of vision loss are identified before it’s too late.
Exams should be performed as soon as possible, between the ages of 6 and 12 months, and then regularly after that for all preterm babies and children whose parents or siblings have squints or have severely impaired vision.
An online eye test drawback
There is a big difference between having an eye test done by a doctor, which includes a thorough eye exam, and completing an online eye test, which has a risk element.
No qualified eye care specialist is on hand to provide a comprehensive examination of your eyes.
Diabetic eye disease, cataracts, glaucoma, and other prevalent health issues cannot be examined by the online test. Only an eye doctor who performs a comprehensive eye exam can identify them.
Even if you are unable to have glaucoma and cataract surgeries, you must see a physician.
Treatment results can be improved by early detection of these issues, perhaps preventing vision loss and even legal blindness. Online eye test do not allow for it.
Additionally, using self-evaluation online vision exams increases the likelihood of receiving inaccurate recommendations for eyeglasses or contact lenses if your eyes are in good condition.
Even if an eye care professional reviews the results of your online “exam” before filling your purchase for eyeglasses. When you take the vision test, no eye care professional is there.
You probably won’t be seeing as clearly as you should if you don’t complete the online vision tests accurately. You may encounter issues with your new glasses or contact lenses, such as headaches and eyestrain.
There is a chance that you may have to pay for the online exam again if it goes wrong.
The bottom line:
Be sure you know what an online eye test can and cannot tell you before doing it. Additionally, maintain your routine visits to your eye doctor to ensure your well-being.
