Can I Get An Eye Exam Online

Are Online Eye Tests Reliable

October 2, 2020 by Dr. Mary Ann Zastrow

So many things can be done online these days that an online eye exam no longer seems like a novel idea. In fact, people are often inclined to consider it as sensible, practical and convenient. You can get an eyeglass prescription and purchase glasses from the comforts of your home. No more taking a trip to your eye doctors office and lining up to get checked. Of course, these advantages are all valid. But is the convenience and the time you are able to save really worth it in the end? Are online eye tests truly effective?

You have probably considered taking an online eye test at some point. So whether you are interested in trying it out or just plain curious about their effectiveness, read on to get the answers to some frequently asked questions about online eye exams.

Do I Need An Eye Exam If I Have Good Vision

If you have been blessed with good eyesight all your life, you should still have an eye exam done by the time you reach age 40, Dr. Brissette says. This is because the risk of developing eye disease goes up as you get older.

After age 40, if your eyes are in good shape, schedule an eye exam with an ophthalmologist or optometrist every two or so years.

If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, don’t wait until you turn 40. These two conditions can seriously damage your eyes if they are not well controlled. You should have your eyes checked regularly to catch any problems early.

How Can I Test My Vision At Home

The online vision test takes about 5 to 10 minutes and requires a smartphone and computer connected to the internet,10 feet of space, and your prior prescription. You’ll wear your current lenses and answer a series of questions thatappear on your computer screen. Once you’re done, a licensed doctor in your area will review your test and send you your results.

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What Will You Need To Complete The Test

It takes approximately 10 minutes. Youll need:

• A computer and smartphoneYour computer will reveal an eye test and youll proceed through it on your phone.
• 10 feet of spaceYoull need to back 10 feet away from your computer.
• A credit cardThe reason you need a credit card is youll use it to calibrate your screen size for the exam.
• A vision prescriptionThe service enables you to renew existing or old prescriptions.

How Online Vision Tests Work

An online vision test can have a few steps. Youâll need a computer and some space to sit back so you can take the part of the test that checks your distance vision. Some tests also need you to have a smartphone so you can use an app. If you have prescription eyeglasses or contacts, chances are youâll need to wear them for the test.

Some websites offer tests just to check your vision. If you get results that say you might have a problem, it will be up to you to see an eye doctor. Other websites offer prescriptions for glasses and contacts based on the results of your tests. An eye doctor in your state will check over your results and email you a prescription. Then you can order glasses or contacts online. Not every state will allow you to get an eye prescription this way.

The websites that offer prescriptions will charge a fee. Chances are your vision or health insurance wonât cover it. It might be cheaper for you to use your insurance to see an eye doctor. Check your plan to see what it covers.

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Inspired By A Patient To Go Online

It was a patient who motivated Lee, in 2009, to develop an online vision testing company. At the time, he was working as an optometrist at a private practice in Chicago and teaching ophthalmology students at Northwestern Hospital.

She was a single mom. It sounded very difficult for her to make it into the clinic, and her vision was changing and fluctuating a lot, Lee said of the patient, who needed refraction tests.

She finally makes it in, and then she asked me this one question that really just stuck with me. Why cant we do eye exams at home? and that just really gave me a light-bulb moment, said Lee, who has a background in engineering, optics and eye care.

I ended up going home and just started doodling, that night, a lot of different ideas, Lee said. He then realized that refraction tests could be conducted online, though it would be controversial.

I realized that it really was possible and then figured out the concept, he said.

How Do Online Eye Tests Work

For starters, you will need a computer or a smartphone as well as sufficient space to sit back so that you can check your distance vision during the exam. Also, make sure to have your current prescription glasses or contacts within reach since you are likely to wear them for the test.

Take note that some websites or apps can check your vision only. So if the results say that you might have a problem, youll still need to see an eye doctor for confirmation. Other websites and apps, however, can offer prescriptions for glasses and contacts. An eye doctor typically goes over your results and emails you a prescription based on your tests. You can also order your glasses or contacts online. This isnt allowed in every state, though, so you might want to check first with your local area.

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Eye Doctors Get Creative With Telehealth

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some eye doctors are seeing patients via virtual “eye exams” while their offices are limited for routine eye care.

Yes, you may be able to FaceTime with your eye doctor to find out if that bump on your eye is a stye and what you can do to treat it at home.

Whats driving the shift to telehealth? Efforts to control the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

On March 18, 2020, the American Academy of Ophthalmology issued a practice guidance document that urged all ophthalmologists to immediately “cease providing any treatment other than urgent or emergent care.”

The following month, AAO released a follow-up message from Academy CEO, David W. Parke II, MD, on reopening ophthalmology care, which stated that, “the decisions to reopen more normal practice will be local and regional…based on local and state governments, on public health authorities interpreting local patterns of disease, on testing availability, on institutional policies and ultimately on individual ophthalmologists.”

On March 24, 2020, the American Optometric Associations Health Policy Institute released a statement advising optometrists to be aware of guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that month to postpone all routine eye care visits. The HPI further advised optometrists to take appropriate measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

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*Discount applied on the current website price at the time of order. Offer only valid for new customer first contacts order over $10. Maximum discount of $100. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Promotions are subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to cancel orders that are in breach of the terms and conditions of this offer.

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Are Online Eye Tests More Affordable

Its not uncommon to think that online vision tests can save you money. However, it is worth noting that an online eye exam is only a small part of the services that your eye doctor can provide during a complete exam. So if you prefer a more personalized approach and youre keen on getting the most bang for your buck, it is still better to go to your local eye doctor.

Additionally, the cost of online vision tests is typically not covered by health insurance or vision insurance. If you have a vision benefits plan, your expenses for a comprehensive eye exam might actually be less than the cost of your online vision test. Make sure to check the type of coverage that you have for eye care, and take advantage of your benefits.

Heres another thing worth considering in terms of costs: With the risk of getting an inaccurate result, you might find yourself heading to an eye clinic anyway and purchasing another pair of glasses or contacts. Instead of saving money, you might end up paying more.

If youre looking for a local optician, Downtown Eyes has a team of professional doctors and staff who will take care of your needs. We provide a range of eye care services including contact lens fittings, eye exams, eye disease treatment and LASIK surgery co-management. Call us at 333-EYES or fill out our contact form to request an appointment. We serve customers in Minneapolis, MN.

Is The Visibly Test The Same As Visiting An Eye Doctor

Its not. An online vision test focuses on visual acuity and simply enables you to quickly obtain a valid prescription to replace your glasses.Under no circumstance should the online vision test be thought of as a replacement for getting a comprehensive eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist where a trained eye care professional carefully examines the health of your eyes.As All About Vision points out, Online eye exams cannot determine if you have cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and other eye or general health problems that your eye doctor can detect during a comprehensive eye exam.

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Why Should I Get An Eye Exam To Get Glasses

You need to have an eye exam, not just a test for refractive error, says Ashley Brissette, MD, clinical spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and in practice at New York Presbyterian/Weil Cornell Medicine in Manhattan.

At a comprehensive eye examination, your eye doctor checks the pressure inside your eye, looks at your pupils to see if they react to light properly, inspects your corneas and peers into the back of your eye to evaluate the retina.

Each part of the exam checks a different part of your eye.

Your doctor will check how well your eyes move and if they are aligned correctly. He or she will also check your side vision, the loss of which is easy to miss in everyday life but is a symptom of several eye conditions, including glaucoma.

The Visual Acuity Check

This is certainly the most important check. All eyeglass wearers are familiar with this test. The eye doctor asks you to read letters or numerals and to identify the direction of the opening in special rings each with a different size on a projection surface. The eye doctor checks the size of the various elements you can identify them without difficulty. A process known as subjective refraction is also performed after this by the eye doctor. After various lenses with different powers have been inserted in a device known as a trial frame, we indicate whether we see better or worse with each lens. The eye doctor begins to optimize the lens first for one eye, and then for the other. It is then important to check the interaction of the eyes by using a binocular test. Other tests can also be used to identify a condition known as associated heterophoria, which can then be corrected and, in some cases, treated.

In Part 1 of our free online check we simulate the testing of your visual performance on the screen. This is not intended as a replacement for the tests conducted by your eye doctor. However, you do receive an initial impression of the quality of your vision.

During eye examinations, the refractive power required to correct defective vision is determined without accommodation .

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How Eye Doctors Are Using Virtual Visits

Dr. David Goldman, an ophthalmologist in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, says telemedicine lets eye care professionals determine whether a patient is experiencing a medical emergency.

For instance, a patients eye irritation might be caused by an easy-to-treat swollen eyelid, meaning its not an emergency.

By being able to evaluate these patients from afar, we can minimize the number of in-office visits and decrease overall risk for everyone of coronavirus exposure, Goldman says.

How Reliable Are Online Eye Exams

Last reviewed January 25, 2022

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At a time when more people turn to the internet for everything, from information to shopping to making a living, it is not surprising that telemedicine has become more of a reality each day. Now, psychiatric patients can have Skype therapy sessions from the comfort of home, monthly medication prescriptions can be refilled with the click of a mouse, and even an eye exam can be performed with just a laptop and a smartphone. But for all the convenience and efficiency that telecommunication and information technology has brought to our lives, how well can it replace the thoroughness and expertise of a doctors appointment?

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Are Online Eye Tests Accurate

Online vision tests are still a new technology, and there is not enough studies to show how they compare to an exam that you typically get from your eye doctor. That is why doctors still have different opinions regarding the accuracy of online vision tests.

Another important thing that you need to consider is that the accuracy of your online vision test also depends on whether you have taken the test correctly or not. Lastly, online vision tests are not designed for people who need a strong eyeglass prescription. Its best to visit an eye clinic for such needs.

How Is My Vision Prescription Calculated

A vision test whether administered by your eye doctor or via an online tool checks the refraction of your eyes, which is the part of an eye examination in which you look at charts of letters or shapes of different sizes.

The eye chart helps determine how well you see at different distances, a measurement expressed in two numbers: 20/20 means you see at 20 feet what someone with normal vision should see at 20 feet.

If any objects on the chart are blurry or hard to read, you probably have a refractive error, such as nearsightedness , farsightedness or astigmatism. The “error” you keep hearing about refers to the shape of your eye certain eye shapes don’t allow light to be focused onto the back of your eye properly, which gives you blurry vision.

But a refractive error isn’t the only problem you might have with your eyes. An eye doctor also checks the health of your eyes, looking for early signs of macular degeneration, glaucoma and other eye conditions. They may also be able to spot early signs of diseases like diabetes and cancer.

WANT TO BOOK AN EYE EXAM? Find an eye doctor near you.

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What’s The Difference Between An Online Vision Test And Seeing An Eye Doctor For An In

The difference is that an online vision test does not go over the health of your eyes and can only be used for renewing your existingprescription, also you still need to visit the eye doctor for an initial prescription! Online vision tests cannot diagnose eye healthrelated conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. If you think you have an infection or you’ve injured your eyes,you should see an eye doctor immediately.

* Our Online Vision Test service does not include any type of eye health exam nor is it a replacement for one. Our licensed Ophthalmologists use our online technology to evaluate a patient’s visual acuity and a portion of the ocular health profile, diagnose refractive error, and issue a prescription for corrective eyewear, where clinically appropriate. Our Online Vision Test services are limited to patients between the ages of 18 and 55 who are in good health and must be within a specific prescription range. All prescriptions are issued based on the independent clinical judgement of an ophthalmologist within the patientâs area. Because Our Online Vision Test services are not a replacement for an eye health examination, we encourage everyone to obtain a comprehensive eye health exam at least once every 2 years. We prohibit patients from taking Our Online Vision Test more than 4 consecutive years without certifying that they have received a comprehensive eye health exam first.

Are Online Vision Tests Enough

The answer to this question is no, online vision tests arent enough. They only measure visual acuity, not whats most importantthe health of your eyes. In other words, they cant replace regular eye doctor visits. A comprehensive eye exam helps you learn if you have symptoms of eyesight-threatening conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Online vision tests may be useful in certain situations. If you intend to take one, follow it up with a visit to an eye care specialist.

Schedule an appointment with Opti-Care today if you need a comprehensive eye exam or an eyeglass or contact lenses prescription. Call 795-8670 or fill out our contact form.

Everything can now be accomplished online, from buying new clothes to earning a degree. Even eye tests can now be…

Everything can now be accomplished online, from buying new clothes to earning a degree. Even eye tests can now be…

Everything can now be accomplished online, from buying new clothes to earning a degree. Even eye tests can now be…

Everything can now be accomplished online, from buying new clothes to earning a degree. Even eye tests can now be…

Everything can now be accomplished online, from buying new clothes to earning a degree. Even eye tests can now be…

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