Can you do an eye test at home?
You can do a basic eye test at home, but it is highly important to remember that these tests do not have any diagnostic value. Only a qualified health professional such as an optician, ophthalmologist or doctor can make any type of official diagnosis about your eye health. To fully understand the current health of your eyes, you must have a proper examination. It is highly advised that you have an eye test at least once every two years, or when you notice visible changes to your eye health.
How can I test my eyesight at home?
As mentioned before, only a qualified professional can officially test for eye-related health issues, however, there are a number of online tests available that can give you a general idea about whether or not there may be a particular issue with your eyesight.
These will compromise of a series of interactive tests that will aim to measure visual acuity, astigmatism, light sensitivity, near vision, colour vision and AMD. You will likely be asked to sit at a distance from the screen and cover one eye during some of the tests.
How can I test my vision?
If you would like to test your vision, there are a number of websites and downloadable phone apps that can help you test your vision. However, you cannot accurately measure your prescription for glasses or contact lenses by doing an at-home vision test. More so that glasses and contact lenses require two completely different tests.
A self-evaluated eye test will not include the use of many of the high-tech instruments and machines that opticians use during examinations. Asides from visual acuity, these instruments can also detect underlying problems that affect sight such as high blood pressure.
In conclusion, while it may save you money, an at-home eye test is not a full medical evaluation and regardless of whatever test you do at home, they are not a means of diagnosing mitigating or treating eye-related health issues. Having carried out an at-home eye test, you must follow up with an evaluation by a qualified vision specialist.
Find out if you qualify for a free eye test with our handy guide.
