Do online vision exams really work?

It seems easy: Just click on a website or app, follow the prompts and check your vision for free from the comfort of your home. But easier doesn't always mean better, especially when it comes to the health of your eyes. 

Yearly eye exams with an eye doctor, or optometrist, are important for vision and eye health. These visits can also help support your overall health. Your eye doctor can spot health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, just by looking into your eyes.¹

Can an online vision exam replace a visit with your optometrist? Here's what you need to know about online eye checks.

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How do online vision exams work?

Most online vision exams are meant for people who want to renew an existing prescription for contact lenses or glasses. To start, you may need to share personal information, such as your date of birth and where you live. This information will determine whether you qualify for the online exam, which is not available in all states.²

Next, you may be asked a series of questions. You'll share information about your prescription and whether you have any medical problems that could affect your eyes, such as diabetes. The exam will then use a series of prompts to check your vision. From there, a remote doctor will check your results and write your prescription.³

Online exams offer flexibility and convenience to renew your prescription until you can find the time to visit your eye doctor. ExpressExam, coordinated by 1-800 Contacts, performs online exams with prescription renewal and is offered exclusively to eligible UnitedHealthcare Vision members at no additional cost. If you're a UnitedHealthcare Vision member, visit expressexam.com/uhc to see if you're eligible to renew your prescription today.*

What’s the difference between an in-person exam and an online vision exam?

Both exams test your visual acuity. That is how well you're able to read a standardized eye chart through one or both eyes. But that's where the similarity ends.

An online vision exam can only capture a sliver of what's offered in an in-person exam, says Robert C. Layman, O.D., the immediate past president of the American Optometric Association. An in-person eye exam includes many different tests, which are used to give you a full picture of your eye health. These typically include:⁴

Medical history

This includes your family history, medical history and past medicines.

Visual acuity

Visual acuity is a measure of how sharp your vision is. It’s written as a fraction. For example, 20/20 is considered normal visual acuity. If your visual acuity is off, you may need glasses or contact lenses.⁵

Testing your prescription

The doctor will determine which corrective lens strength helps you see most clearly.

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Dilation

This tests how well your pupils (the black openings in the center of the eyes) react to light. Dilating the pupils allows more light into the eye. This allows the doctor to check for eye health issues, such as glaucoma.⁶

Retina/optic nerve exam

This exam checks the area at the back of your eye for signs of damage. To do this test, your doctor may need to put eye drops in your eyes to dilate them.

Front of eye exam

The doctor will check whether the front of your eye has any signs of damage.

Peripheral vision exam

The extent of your side vision, while looking straight ahead, is called peripheral vision.⁷

Eye movement

Checking to see how well your eyes move — and whether your eye muscles are working together properly — is an important part of an in-person eye exam.

Eye pressure

A buildup of pressure in the eyes, which can often go undetected, can damage the optic nerve.⁸ This is the nerve at the back of the eye that sends visual information to the brain so you can see.⁹

This important test determines whether your eye pressure is within the healthy range. It can diagnose glaucoma, a condition marked by damage to the optic nerve.¹⁰

Eye exams can reveal common eye diseases. But an online vision exam can't detect serious eye problems or underlying health problems.³

Online vision exams are really only for updating a prescription, says Angela Moll, M.D., an ophthalmology specialist in San Diego. But even when it comes to virtual exams for corrective prescriptions, experts agree online exams are limited. “You're not able to refine the prescription like you are in the office,” says Dr. Moll.

What's more, contact lens wearers may run the risk of getting a poor fit.¹ In the office, an eye doctor takes measurements of the cornea to help you find the right lens fit. But if the fit isn't right, the prescription won't be centered properly. This could cause headaches, nausea and eye pain, in addition to blurry vision.¹¹

When online eye exams can come in handy

When deciding on an online vision exam, it's important to understand its limitations. That said, these virtual tests can sometimes be useful.

Online vision exams for a glasses prescription may be okay for adults between ages 18 and 39 who have healthy eyes.³ Dr. Moll says these online vision exams are best for healthy adults whose prescriptions are out of date and who haven't noticed any vision changes. If this sounds like you, an online vision exam may work in a pinch.

But keep in mind, you'll still need an in-person eye exam as well. The American Optometric Association suggests comprehensive eye exams once every 2 years for low-risk adults under age 65. It's a good idea for people ages 65 and older, or those with a higher risk of eye disease, to visit their eye doctor more often.⁶

The bottom line: While technology is constantly improving, an online vision exam won't be as accurate as an eye exam done by your optometrist.

Looking for a new eye care provider? Search the UnitedHealthcare Vision Network now.

Sources:

1. Online eye tests are not comprehensive eye exams! American Optometric Association. Accessed October 2, 2023.
2. The issue Americans for Vision Care Innovation. Accessed October 2, 2023.
3. Using a home vision test to order glasses online American Academy of Ophthalmology, January 2022. Accessed October 2, 2023.
4. Comprehensive eye exams American Optometric Association. Accessed October 2, 2023.
5. Visual acuity test Medline Plus, last updated February 12, 2023. Accessed October 20, 2023.
6. Get a dilated eye exam National Eye Institute, last updated May 2021. Accessed October 2, 2023.
7. Vision loss, peripheral (side) American Academy of Ophthalmology, January 2021. Accessed October 2, 2023.
8. Eye pressure testing American Academy of Ophthalmology, April 2022. Accessed October 2, 2023.
9. Parts of the eye National Eye Institute
10. Glaucoma American Optometric Association. Accessed October 2, 2023.
11. Consumer health alert American Optometric Association. Accessed October 2, 2023.

*ExpressExam may not be available for all vision plans and is not in all states.