Eye Sight Test Online - Chart, Cost and Benefits

Anyone who wears glasses probably knows what an eye chart is. You are asked to read an eye chart when you visit an eye doctor. This eye test chart measures your visual acuity and sharpness of vision. If you do not wear glasses, the chart can help the doctor determine whether you need them.

If you wear corrective glasses, the results will show if the prescription needs to be changed. Various types of eye charts are available. Similar to an in-person eye exam, you need to read an eye chart in an online test to measure your visual acuity.  

An online eye test can help determine if you suffer from hyperopia (farsightedness) or myopia (short-sightedness), requiring corrective glasses or lenses. The test may also check other conditions and factors, such as:

1. Astigmatism (a condition that makes things blurry or stretched)
2. Colour blindness (inability to see colours correctly)
3. The sharpness of your vision
4. Light sensitivity of your eyes

These tests can be especially helpful when you break or lose your glasses and need a prescription to get new ones. 

Online eyesight tests are usually suitable for people aged between 18 to 39, with no other health conditions like glaucoma and diabetes. To qualify for an online eye exam, you must:

1. Already have a prescription for eyeglasses which is not very strong
2. Have had a complete eye exam to know that your eyes are healthy
3. Even if you are healthy and of the right age, it is important to get regular eye exams as the eye doctor recommends. 

An online eye-vision test follows a few steps. You will need a few supplies to check your eyesight at home, such as a computer, a smartphone, and a well-lighted room at least ten feet long. Do-it-yourself vision tests are easy to find online.

1. These tests require you to stand ten feet from your device and speak the letters aloud as you look at the eye test chart.
2. Several other companies offer a free smartphone app that allows you to measure your vision. An optometrist or an ophthalmologist then reviews the results. 
3. Some websites offer eye power tests to check your vision.
4. Others offer prescriptions for glasses and contacts issued by an optometrist based on your online eye test results.
5. If your results show that you might have a problem, you should visit an eye doctor. 

Healthcare experts strongly caution patients against getting eye tests online to order contact lenses. Contacts should only be prescribed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist trained to check for a good fit.

Contacts that do not fit properly can cause several complications, like irritation, redness, and potentially dangerous eye conditions causing blindness, such as corneal infection.    

There are some benefits of online eye check tests that are making them popular among people. These benefits include:

1. Affordable
   1. Depending on the type of test, the cost of an in-person eye checkup can be anywhere between Rs 100 to Rs 3000. The cost may increase based on where you get the test and who performs it.
   2. Online eyesight tests are comparatively cheaper and save you money. The websites offering online eye tests usually cost less than in-person tests. Some websites even offer free online eye exams. 
2. Convenient
   1. Traditional eye exams require going to an optometrist or ophthalmologist. One big benefit of online eye tests is the convenience it offers.
   2. With these tests, you can check your vision without leaving the comfort of your home.
   3. The test identifies refraction needs, such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. 

Disadvantages of Online Eye Exams

Getting eye tests online has its limitations. Factors that make online eye exams inadequate include:

1. Inaccuracy
   1. Online eye exams do not match the accuracy level of in-person eye tests. If you fail to do the test correctly, there is a risk of not getting the right prescription for your eyes.
   2. Since no trained eye care professional is present during the online eye test, there is always room for errors. 
2. Time-consuming
   1. In an online eye power test, the results go to an ophthalmologist for evaluation, and you must wait 24 hours to get a new prescription.
   2. Therefore, in eyewear emergencies, you cannot rely on these tests.
   3. On the other hand, you leave an ophthalmologist’s office with a prescription during an in-person eye test.
   4. It only takes about 20-30 minutes for an eye doctor to complete a thorough eye exam and offer accurate results. 
3. Not suitable for everyone
   1. Online eye tests may not suit people with severe eye conditions or a family history of vision disorders.
   2. These tests do not detect eye conditions like glaucoma, cataract, and other eye problems.   

While affordability is a benefit of online eye exams, it does not necessarily mean you will always save more money than going to a hospital. Online tests have some limitations, and you will receive only a part of the complete eye checkup services. On the other hand, visiting an optometrist or ophthalmologist may be a little costlier. However, it will ensure accuracy and include identifying other eye problems, like glaucoma and cataracts. 

Relying on an online eye test depends on factors such as age, medical history, eye conditions, and other factors. The test should be used only by healthy adults who do not have a strong eyeglass prescription and have no symptoms of other vision-threatening diseases. It is important to remember the following points while considering an online eye-vision test:

1. These tests are best used to update an existing prescription in healthy adults who previously had a comprehensive eye exam. 
2. An optometrist or ophthalmologist must approve corrective eyewear prescriptions from online eye exams. 
3. If you have a high-power prescription, you should avoid online tests and schedule an appointment with your optometrist or ophthalmologist. 
4. If you are at risk of developing an eye disease or experiencing eye symptoms, visit your opthalmologist regularly, at a frequency that they recommend.

Getting eye tests online can be beneficial if you want to test your vision and update your eyesight prescription. Online eyesight tests allow patients to determine refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Various websites provide free online vision tests, and others even offer glasses and contacts prescriptions. 

However, online eye tests are NOT a substitute for in-person eye exams. They do not determine the health of your eyes. Even when you get an online eye exam, it is important to schedule a comprehensive in-person eye test. These in-person exams help detect common eye disorders and hidden conditions that may lead to blindness if not treated correctly. 

You can get in touch with an HexaHealth expert to schedule regular comprehensive eye exams. Our team of experts will connect you with the best ophthalmologists or optometrists in your area to offer an accurate prescription for glasses and contacts and diagnose other serious eye conditions.   

Suggested Reads: 

1. Diagnostic Tests for the Eye
2. Red eyes
3. Anatomy of Eye
4. Basic Eye Disorders
5. Regular Eye Checkup Importance, What to Expect, and Benefits
6. Eye Surgery Types