Have you misplaced your only pair of eyeglasses? Maybe, you’ve run through your last box of contacts? In either situation, you might be forced to replace them. If you need a new prescription, you’ll normally go through the process of scheduling an appointment with your trusted eye doctor. But in recent years, several companies have made it possible to get your vision test done online. You may be interested in trying this yourself, but is it reliable enough?

How Reliable Are Online Vision Tests?

Taking an online vision test can be convenient in some situations, like when you misplace or break your only pair of glasses, and you’re far from home. In this case, you’d need a prescription as soon as possible to get new ones. Most online vision exams are capable of checking how sharp your vision is, how sensitive your eyes are to light and whether you have color blindness or not. It can also check if you have astigmatism, an eye condition that makes things blurred or stretched.

Healthy adults between 18 to 39 years old with no risks of eye diseases and who completed a recent eye exam can undergo an online vision test. Some people may also take it if they already have a prescription, but it isn’t strong enough for them to see clearly. However, they need to be taken correctly, or the results won’t be accurate. That’s why it’s important to understand what the online test can and can’t tell you.

Why You Still Need a Proper Eye Exam

Researchers haven’t studied online vision tests well enough to know for sure that they can compare to a real eye exam from a vision care center. Online vision tests may offer some level of convenience, but they won’t be as accurate as a comprehensive eye exam, which should be done at least once a year at an optometrist’s office so you can be sure of your eyes’ overall condition.

Do you need to take an eye exam? Set up an appointment with Spectrum Eye Care! Call us at (704) 543-9000, or fill out our convenient online request form to get started! We serve residents in Charlotte and the neighboring North Carolina communities.