Eye Exams: Why Online Isn'T Better In This Case

In today's day and age, you can do pretty much anything on the internet. As long as you have an internet connection and a computer, a tablet or a smartphone, you can buy clothes, earn a degree, shop for groceries, and everything in between. However, is the internet sufficient for your annual eye exam? Read on to learn more.

What You See Is What You Get

There are many services online that offer you the convenience of taking an eye test at home in your most comfortable pajamas. However, this doesn't mean that it is what is best for you. These tests, which will use a series of letters, shapes and lines, will typically measure your visual acuity as well as refractive error. Some may even be able to test for light sensitivity, color blindness and other minor vision problems. However, what these tests will be unable to do focus on is your eye health, which is the absolute most important thing. The only way to detect signs of macular generation, glaucoma and cataracts – serious vision problems – is to see your local optometrist.

The Risks of Online Vision Tests

When go through with an online vision test, you are essentially handling your vision yourself. You are not putting your vision in the hands of a qualified eye doctor. This puts you at risk for certain issues, including the following:

  • Undiagnosed Vision Problems – If you have a serious problem with your vision, such as glaucoma, macular generation or cataracts, then the problem will remain undetected and undiagnosed. There are also other health conditions that may show symptoms in your eyes. For example, blurred vision is often one of the first signs that you have diabetes. So, it is important that if you have noticed any major changes in your vision that you contact your optometrist and schedule an appointment at your very earliest convenience.
  • Incorrect Prescription – While there are some online services that say that they have their online vision test results verified by a certified optometrist, there is no guarantee that this is done nor is there a guarantee that the test was administered properly to begin with. If the test was inaccurate from the get-go, it will lead to inaccurate results and thereby an incorrect prescription.

It is important that you take your eye health seriously. It is understanding how tempting an online vision test can be; however, there are simply too many risks involved. To ensure that you remain healthy (your vision and body), contact an optometrist, such as Dr Joel Zuckerbraun PC, in your local area to schedule your annual eye exam.

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