Since the pandemic, we all have learnt how important it is to go digital. From ordering makeup to buying groceries, everything has become easily available digitally. Post-pandemic ordering eyeglasses online became quite popular, but have you heard about an online eye exam?
You know what they say – if something sounds too good to be true, there's usually a bit of hesitation. So, are these online eye exams any good? And do they offer the same accuracy and results as in-person eye tests? If you’ve been wondering the same, I’ll do my best to offer some clarity. So, let’s break through the noise of online eye exams and set the record straight.
What is Online Vision Testing?
Many companies are offering eye tests via online sources. You have to use both your smartphone to fill in the answers and your computer to take the test. When taking an online vision test, you need to answer a series of questions related to your eye problems and health conditions. Everything is recorded in the video, which is later sent to an ophthalmologist who reviews the results. But how could a simple video reveal everything that’s going on inside your eyes?
Well, as much as I have observed, here is what I think these virtual eye tests could do:
Test your visual acuity
Tell if your eyes are sensitive to light
Detect colour blindness
Estimate your refractive error
But what about the verdict on vision-threatening eye conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma? Won’t these tests give any insight into these potential vision issues? Keep reading to know better.
How Do Online Eye Exams Work?
As I said, you have to answer a few questions about your general eye health. Then you will place your face a few inches away from the screen, tilt your head and make different eye movements.
To test your visual acuity, you have to stand 10 feet away and read out loud the letters on the screen. The recorded video is then sent to an ophthalmologist, who gets back to you with the results after 24 hours so you can get prescription glasses with your latest optical power.
Advantages of Online Eye Exams
There are definitely some benefits of online vision testing, or people won’t be taking them. Here are the things that make a good case for these virtual exams.
1. Affordable
Without insurance or NHS vouchers, an average eye test in the UK can cost you anything between £10 and £30. The cost may go up depending on where you get it done and who is performing the test. Online eye tests are a lot cheaper and save you money. The websites that offer this facility charge you a fee that is usually (if not always) a lot less than in-person vision exams. But you don’t have to worry, we at Specscart offer eye tests to everyone at all our stores in Manchester.
2. Convenient
Traditional eye exams require you to visit an optician or optometrist. What people like about this new way of testing their vision is that they don’t have to leave the comfort of their homes for it.
Disadvantages of Online Eye Exams
No matter how tempting these exams seem to be, there’s always another side to every story. Here’s how these exams fail you.
1. Inaccuracy
The accuracy of an online eye exam does not measure up to in-person eye tests. There’s always room for error in the prescription. Even if you go for an online vision test, routine physical eye exams are necessary as your eye doctor recommends. A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to ensure your vision is healthy.
2. Takes time
As I have mentioned, the video recording of your eye test goes to an ophthalmologist, and you have to wait for 24 hours to get your new prescription. So, if you have an eyewear emergency, you can’t count on these tests. In physical eye exams, you leave the ophthalmologist’s office with your prescription in your hand so you can get your new glasses in no time.
3. Not for everyone
These online eye exams may not be a good option for people with severe eye conditions or a family history of vision-threatening disorders. Several eye diseases, such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, cannot be assessed by these tests.
Who are Online Eye Exams for?
Online vision tests are limited in terms of how much they can tell about your eye health. Most of them are just refractive eye tests. But they may work in the following scenarios.
If you are travelling to remote places with no optical stores near you.
If you’ve recently had an actual eye test, you only need to know whether your prescription has changed.
If you only need to check whether you have developed any refractive error.
If you are taking an online eye test for reading glasses, and not varifocals.
Concluding Thought
If you are taking an online eye test, you should know that it’s not a substitute for physical eye tests at a store. When you go to a comprehensive eye test, the doctor assesses more than just refractive error. They are able to detect early signs of any serious eye conditions that you might be developing. That’s why the NHS also recommends having an eye test every two years. You should make sure to schedule a physical eye exam on a regular basis, even if you have taken online eye tests. As mentioned above, at Specscart eye tests are free for everyone.
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