Frequently asked questions.

Home Eye Test provides a reasonable estimate of visual acuity using the clinically established Tumbling E method. However, it cannot match the precision of a professional eye exam. Factors like screen calibration accuracy, lighting conditions, and viewing distance can affect results. Use it as a screening tool, not a diagnosis.

Yes! The Tumbling E method was specifically chosen because it doesn't require letter recognition — just identifying which direction the 'E' is pointing. Children who can understand the concept of directions (up, down, left, right) can take the test. We recommend adult supervision for children under 8.

We recommend using a computer or tablet with a screen size of at least 10 inches for the most accurate results. Phones can work, but the smaller screen size means the letters start small and get very tiny at higher acuity levels. Whatever device you use, make sure to calibrate your screen first.

20/20 is considered 'normal' visual acuity. It means at 20 feet, you can see what a person with normal vision sees at 20 feet. 20/40 means you need to be at 20 feet to see what a normal eye sees at 40 feet — slightly reduced. 20/16 means you can see at 20 feet what most people need to be at 16 feet to see — better than average.

The American Optometric Association recommends comprehensive eye exams every 1-2 years for adults. You can use Home Eye Test more frequently as a screening tool to track changes, but it should never replace professional exams.

A low score may indicate reduced visual acuity, but don't panic. Many factors can affect your results, including screen calibration, fatigue, or testing conditions. If your results consistently show reduced acuity, we recommend scheduling a professional eye exam.

No. This test only measures visual acuity — how well you can resolve small details. It cannot detect conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or other eye diseases. Only a comprehensive eye exam with an eye care professional can screen for these conditions.

Your test results are stored only in your browser's local storage on your device. We do not collect, transmit, or store any personal data on servers. No account is required, and no cookies are used for tracking.

The letters in the eye test need to be displayed at very specific physical sizes to correspond to the Snellen acuity levels. Since screens come in many sizes and resolutions, calibration using a standard credit card helps us determine your screen's pixels per inch (PPI) so letters are the correct size.

It's up to you. If you want to check your uncorrected vision, remove your glasses or contacts. If you want to verify that your current prescription is working well, keep them on. Just note which condition you tested under when interpreting your results.

During a comprehensive eye exam, an eye doctor will review your medical history, measure your visual acuity using an eye chart, check your eye pressure, evaluate your eye muscle coordination, and examine the health of the front and back of your eyes, often using drops to dilate your pupils.

A typical comprehensive eye exam usually takes between 30 to 60 minutes. The exact duration depends on the specific tests needed, whether your eyes are dilated, and if you are being fitted for contact lenses.

Most adults should get a comprehensive eye exam every 1 to 2 years. However, individuals with vision problems, a family history of eye disease, or health conditions like diabetes may need more frequent exams as recommended by their eye doctor.

Yes. Many eye diseases, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, have no early warning signs. Regular eye exams can detect these conditions early when they are most treatable, even if you haven't noticed any changes in your vision.

Absolutely. 20/20 vision only means your central vision is sharp. An eye exam also checks your peripheral vision, eye coordination, depth perception, and the overall health of the internal and external structures of your eye to catch potential diseases early.

A vision test (or screening) primarily checks your visual acuity (how clearly you see). A comprehensive eye exam goes much further, evaluating the overall health of your eyes, checking for diseases, and assessing how well your eyes work together.

Yes. By examining the blood vessels and nerves in the back of your eye, an eye doctor can often detect signs of systemic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even some neurological conditions.

You should bring your current eyeglasses or contact lenses, a list of any medications you are taking, your vision insurance information, and details of your personal and family medical history.

The cost of an eye exam varies widely depending on your location, the doctor, and whether it is a basic vision exam or a comprehensive medical eye exam. Prices typically range from $50 to over $200 without insurance.

Vision insurance usually covers routine eye exams and a portion of the cost for glasses or contacts. Medical insurance may cover a comprehensive eye exam if it's related to a medical condition like diabetes, cataracts, or eye disease.

Yes, you can pay out-of-pocket for an eye exam. Many retail vision centers, independent optometrists, and community health centers offer exams at affordable out-of-pocket rates, and some provide discounts for cash payments.

No. An online eye test can provide a reasonable estimate of your visual acuity, but it cannot replace a comprehensive in-person exam. Online tests do not check the physical health of your eye, eye pressure, or signs of eye disease.

Online eye tests can accurately measure basic visual acuity if the screen is properly calibrated, lighting is correct, and distance is maintained. However, they lack the precision of professional equipment and cannot assess overall eye health.

The eye chart test, typically a Snellen or Tumbling E chart, measures visual acuity—the clarity or sharpness of your vision at a specific distance.

Common signs include blurred or fuzzy vision, frequent squinting, eye strain, headaches after reading or using a screen, difficulty seeing at night, or needing to hold reading materials further away.

Signs you may need glasses include blurry vision at certain distances, double vision, frequent headaches, eye fatigue, squinting, trouble seeing at night, or seeing 'halos' around lights.

Yes, color vision testing is often a standard part of a comprehensive eye exam. Doctors use specific charts with colored dots (like the Ishihara test) to identify color blindness.

A visual acuity test measures how clearly you can see letters or symbols from a specific distance, usually 20 feet. It is the test that determines your '20/20' or other vision fraction.

Yes. A contact lens exam includes additional measurements of your eye's surface (cornea) and an evaluation of your tear film to ensure you can safely and comfortably wear contacts, which are not part of a standard glasses exam.

You can renew an existing eyeglass prescription online through certain telehealth services if your vision hasn't changed. However, for a new or updated prescription, an in-person exam is required to ensure accurate measurements and check eye health.

Some platforms offer online vision tests for prescription renewal if you meet certain criteria (e.g., age and health requirements). However, they cannot replace an initial in-person exam or check for eye diseases.

Eyeglass prescriptions are generally valid for one to two years, depending on state laws and the doctor's recommendation. Contact lens prescriptions are usually valid for exactly one year because the lenses sit directly on the eye.

If the prescription has expired, you cannot legally use it to buy new glasses or contacts from reputable retailers. You must get a new eye exam to ensure the prescription is still accurate for your current vision.

Eye dilation involves using special eye drops to force the pupil (the black center of the eye) to widen and stay open. This allows the doctor to see clearly into the back of the eye to examine the retina, macula, and optic nerve.

Dilation is crucial for detecting eye diseases that occur at the back of the eye, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal detachment, and diabetic retinopathy, which might otherwise be missed through a small, undilated pupil.

The effects of dilating eye drops typically last between 4 to 6 hours, though it can vary depending on the strength of the drops and the color of your eyes (lighter eyes tend to stay dilated longer). During this time, your near vision will be blurry, and you will be sensitive to light.

It is highly recommended for comprehensive exams, especially for new patients, older adults, or those with certain medical conditions. However, your doctor will determine how frequently it is necessary based on your age and health history.

While you can technically decline dilation, it is considered a vital part of a comprehensive eye health check. Without it, the doctor's view of the back of the eye is limited, increasing the risk of missing serious eye conditions.

The primary side effects are temporary blurriness, especially for near vision, and increased sensitivity to light. Very rarely, some people may experience an allergic reaction to the drops or a sudden increase in eye pressure.

Many people can drive safely after dilation, but your vision will be blurry and you will be very sensitive to bright light. Bring sunglasses. If you have never been dilated before or feel unsafe, it is best to have someone else drive you home.

The American Optometric Association recommends that infants have their first comprehensive eye exam at 6 months of age, followed by another exam at age 3, and again before starting kindergarten.

School-aged children should have an eye exam every year. Vision can change frequently during growth spurts, and good vision is closely linked to learning and academic success.

Adults age 65 and older should have a comprehensive eye exam every year. The risk of developing age-related eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration increases significantly with age.

Yes. Frequent headaches, particularly those that occur after reading, using a computer, or focusing for long periods, are a common symptom of uncorrected vision problems or eye strain.

While digital eye strain can cause significant discomfort, headaches, and temporary blurriness, it is not known to cause permanent damage to your eyes. However, it indicates you may need reading glasses, computer glasses, or better screen habits.

Blurry vision can be caused by refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism), dry eyes, eye fatigue, or more serious conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy. An eye exam is required to determine the exact cause.

Signs include blurry vision, frequent headaches, eye pain or strain, sudden changes in vision, seeing spots or flashes of light, sensitivity to light, or having difficulty driving at night.

Yes. Glaucoma is detected by measuring the pressure inside the eye, inspecting the drainage angle of the eye, and examining the optic nerve for damage—all standard parts of a comprehensive eye exam.

Yes. An eye doctor can easily detect cataracts (clouding of the eye's naturally clear lens) by examining the lens using a specialized microscope called a slit lamp.

Yes, an eye exam can sometimes be the first time diabetes is detected. High blood sugar can cause characteristic changes to the tiny blood vessels in the retina, a condition known as diabetic retinopathy.

In some cases, yes. An eye doctor can observe swelling of the optic nerve (papilledema), which can be a sign of increased pressure in the brain caused by a tumor or other neurological issues.

Avoid staring at screens for extended periods immediately before your exam to prevent eye fatigue. Also, avoid consuming excessive caffeine or alcohol, as they can affect your blood pressure and potentially your eye pressure.

A comprehensive exam includes reviewing your medical history, testing visual acuity, checking eye coordination and muscle movement, assessing peripheral vision, measuring eye pressure, and examining the internal and external health of the eyes.

An optometrist (OD) provides primary vision care, including eye exams, prescribing glasses/contacts, and treating some eye conditions. An ophthalmologist (MD or DO) is a medical doctor who can perform all those services plus diagnose and treat all eye diseases and perform eye surgery.

People who use screens heavily should follow the standard adult recommendation of an exam every 1-2 years. However, if they experience frequent digital eye strain or headaches, they should be evaluated sooner for potential computer glasses.

You can use an online visual acuity test, like the Home Eye Test, to get a preliminary estimate of your vision. However, home tests are not a substitute for professional exams and cannot check eye health.

A prescription of +/- 0.75 is considered mild. Whether you need glasses depends on your personal symptoms. If you experience blurry vision, eye strain, or headaches while driving or reading, glasses with a 0.75 prescription will likely help.

The '6 vision test' refers to the 6/6 vision standard used in many countries (like the UK and Australia), which is the metric equivalent of 20/20 vision. It means you can see clearly at 6 meters what a normal eye should see at 6 meters.

You can check your vision on your phone using browser-based tools like Home Eye Test. You will need to calibrate the screen using a standard object (like a credit card), hold the phone at the recommended distance, and follow the instructions to test your visual acuity.

A prescription of +/- 2.50 is considered moderate. Without glasses or contacts, someone with a 2.50 prescription will experience noticeably blurry vision at a distance (if nearsighted) or up close (if farsighted). Corrective lenses are typically required for most daily activities.