For people who are busy, doing a home vision test and then ordering glasses or contact lenses using an online website or app might be an appealing option. That said, eye physicians recommend proceeding with extreme caution.
Limitations of Home Vision Testing
Online tests can measure the power of eyeglass prescription when done accurately (a challenge in and of itself), but they do not test for eye disease or consider risk factors for disorders that may run in the family.
Other limitations of this technology are that it is only recommended for those between the ages of 18 and 39 who have a mild to moderate eyeglass prescription and no symptoms or risk factors for eye disease.
Home vision testing works best with people who want to use it to update an existing prescription which was given to them during had a recent comprehensive exam.
If Home Testing, Don’t Order Contact Lenses!
Ophthalmologists (Eye MDs) emphasize that these online apps and home vision tests never be used to order contact lenses. The primary reason is because they do not take into account two critical factors:
- The size of the individual’s eye
- The shape of the individual’s eye
Symptoms of poorly fitted contact lenses can range from inadequate vision correction and discomfort to corneal damage and permanent loss of vision.
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