(626) 359-3937Nearly everything gets done online these days—be it buying your favorite clothes to getting a degree. There is even a growing trend of getting an eye exam online. However, can an online eye exam match what optometrist does? Are online eye exams useful? Let us see the hows whats and whys.
Online Eye Exams–The Truth
There are a lot of online services that claim that they can help you have an eye test from the comfort of your home. They use a series of lines, letters, and shapes claiming that they have assessed your vision in as little as 30 minutes. The websites claim that these “results” are tested by an optometrist and even prescribe eyeglasses. But how can you be sure that a licensed optometrist is reviewing your test results? Moreover, how accurate could those results be?
The Risks of Self-Examination
Because online eye tests rely a lot on the user, you will be essential to performing a self-examination. Consequently, you run the risk of the following situations:
Undiagnosed Vision Problems
While online exams are convenient, the majority only measure the visual acuity and refractive error. A select few do test other vision problems like light sensitivity or even color blindness. However, none of them can detect eye health which is one of the primary aspects of an eye exam. Online eye exams cannot identify problems like cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye maladies.
Incorrect Prescription
Not having professional guidance throughout an eye exam could lead to a faulty prescription. Your eyes are very precise and sensitive organs. If your prescription is off, even by a small margin, you can suffer from:
- Dizziness
- Eye strain
- Nausea
- Vertigo
- Blurry vision
While the internet can provide us with many conveniences, a sound eye exam is not one of them. If you are in need of a professional eye examination, give Dr. Alysa Watanabe a call.
(626) 359-3937