Online optical tests: how reliable?
Digital progress and the Covid-19 pandemic have accelerated the possibilities of performing certain tasks online. While they seemed to require going to a physical store, these tasks, such as sending registered mail, can now be done directly online. Eye tests are no exception. But as usual, in addition to medical checks, one can legitimately wonder about the reliability of these online optical tests. We try to provide an answer.
Online optical tests: how does it work?
Online optical tests are to be carried out directly on your computer or via an application on a smartphone or tablet. They are generally of a fairly short duration and do not focus solely on checking the level of vision. Thus, the Zeiss test, for example, will be used to establish a visual profile, intended to direct you to one type of lens rather than another. For this, questions are asked about habits at work, but also the way of life. The number of hours spent in front of a screen or outdoors will refine this visual profile.
Other tests, on the other hand, assess vision. All these tests warn that they are not a substitute for an eye examination provided by a professional. Some of them make you accept a disclaimer in order to start the test. Once launched, the latter is done in 5 minutes. It is very easy to do and all the instructions are clear.
You should stand at a safe distance and follow the instructions. It can be done with or without correction depending on the needs of the test. Once completed, a report is presented to the patient. Most often, it is recalled, even if the result is correct, that only an ophthalmologist is able to correctly assess vision. The patient is then encouraged to make an appointment, especially if it has been a long time.
Are these online optical tests reliable?
In the end, online optical tests turn out to be more of a means of raising awareness among the general public than an effective measure of vision. Moreover, none of them allows, very logically, to obtain a prescription for any correction. The tool gives trends on several visual characteristics (distance vision, near vision, colors, astigmatism, etc.) These tests therefore make it possible to get an idea of an overall level of vision without going into details. The main thing, for the brands that offer it, is of course to protect themselves against potential complainants who might understand that this test would be equivalent to that of a professional.
The main purpose of being able to offer on its site, as an industrialist or optician, will therefore be to make the population aware of carrying out tests directly with their ophthalmologist. By understanding that it is simply a tool for establishing trends, all without professional supervision, they may be able to persuade some reluctant to have their vision tested by a doctor.[= ]
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