4 Best FREE Online Eye Exams

Having routine eye exams done is a crucial component to maintaining healthy eyesight.

Although needed, finding time within your busy, hectic schedule to plan for a sudden visit to the optometrist’s office can be a headache. Completing your eye exam in-person can take hours, not to mention having to deal with the hassles of travel time and availability. Reasons such as these inspired Opternative to become the first provider of the online eye exam in 2012.

Today, several companies offer online vision exams for an easier alternative to in-person eye exams. If you are short on time, and if contacts are ripped, or glasses lost, and you need a quick fix for your eyesight issues, scheduling an online eye exam might be the best option for a quick fix for your eyesight issues.

Here is some deeper insight into online eye exams and how they work.

In-Person Eye Exams V.S. Online Eye Exams

Where in-person eye exams measure the full gamut of vision loss issues, online eye exams were created for convenience.

Online vision tests may examine the following:

• Sharpness of your vision
• If an astigmatism is present
• Eye Sensitivity
• Color-Blindness

Online eye exams can be used to renew prescriptions for contact lenses and glasses, but not to diagnose more serious issues, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and even problems with diabetes.

If a serious issue is suspected, an in-person eye exam is more appropriate. Many online eye exam sites suggest pairing an online vision test with an in-person exam for the best results.

How Do Online Eye Exams Work?

Also known as vision tests, or prescription checkups, online eye exams do not require an actual examination. Instead, online eye exams are designed for the renewal of pre-existing prescriptions for glasses or contacts, eliminating the need to physically see an optometrist.

Online eye exams are more geared towards refraction, astigmatism, and color blindness tests.

To conduct an online vision test, you will need a computer and a few feet of space. Several exams require a smartphone as well for the purpose of downloading an app. You will also need to wear your existing prescription for some parts of the exam.

Some online exam providers only offer simple check-up tests, suggesting that if your results are problematic, a doctor should be consulted. They are important for maintaining up-to-date information about your eyesight.

A cheaper option, these exams are also helpful when you are in a financial bind. After the online eye exam has been completed, which only takes about five minutes, a licensed optometrist examines the test results. In one or two business days, if no issues arise, your prescription is renewed.

4 Best Free Online Eye Exams

The first step to completing your own online eye exam is to locate a reliable provider. While there are several online eye exams available for a fee, here is a look at some of the best free ones we could find.

1. FinestGlasses.com

The creators of Finest Glasses have realized that ordering glasses online the typical way still involves a visit to an optometrist’s office. They sympathize with those who have endured unnecessary sales pitches, and for this reason, they began providing online eye exams.

The Finest Glasses online vision test, appropriate for both children and adults, can be conducted on a variety of monitor sizes. This particular eye exam operates by using the “E Game.” Capital E’s, consisting of various orientations and size differences, are used to help determine how strong your prescription should be.

Best part about it? The exam is absolutely free!

2. ZEISS.com

In the words of the brilliant minds of ZEISS, “better vision also means more quality of life.”

For this very reason, and the fact that eye care is also a part of preventative health care, ZEISS has created their own rendition of the online eye exam at no cost. Their exam consists of three different components:

1. Visual Acuity Check: Most important component. The amount of refractive power, also known as how the eyes automatically adapt to distance needed to correct vision, is examined.
2. Contrast Vision Check: Examines contrast vision.
3. Color Vision Check: Uses color charts to determine issues with color blindness, whether partial or total.

3. DiscountContactLenses.com

With a computer, a smartphone, 10 feet of space, and only 15 minutes of time, you can easily and conveniently complete the Discount Contact Lenses online eye exam from the comfort of your own home.

After allowing one business day for doctor review, you will receive your contact lens prescription for free. You will then be allowed to use your prescription in PDF form to complete your purchase.

Discount Contact Lenses will not provide their online vision test for the following reasons:

• Patients who are younger than 18 or over 55
• More than one prescription needed
• Orders without prescription products
• Prescriptions for only one eye
• Prescriptions for RGP, novelty, or discontinued contact lenses
• Prescription CYL parameters higher than -3.00
• Prescription SPH parameters outside of +3.50 to -10.00

The following states are excluded from eligibility as well:

4. DiscountGlasses.com

Discount Glasses provides a free online vision exam that you can complete quickly from the convenience of your own home. Their eye test can be completed in just a few minutes, a fraction of the time needed to visit an optometrist’s office. While in Checkout, users can select the “Renew Your Prescription” option to complete the online eye exam.

The only catch?

Users in the following states can not use the Discount Glasses online vision test in lieu of an in-person visit:

Summary

Although still met with mixed reviews on effectiveness, online eye exams are indeed practical. Online vision tests are paving the way for convenience, allowing users to experience the benefits of optimal eye care from the comfort of their living rooms. If you choose to participate in an online vision test, as long as no major issues exist, your results will be delivered quickly and accurately. Remember that using an online eye exam is not as accurate as an in-person visit to an optometrist, so be sure to schedule a visit down the line to fully ensure that your eyes are healthy. 

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Sources

1.  “Opternative Is The First Online Eye Exam That Writes You A ….” 25 Feb. 2014, https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/25/do-i-need-glasses/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2020.
2. “Online vision tests vs. in-person: How do they compare? – CNN.” 15 Mar. 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/15/health/online-eye-exam-telemedicine-explainer/index.html. Accessed 4 Dec. 2020.
3.  “Can You Test Your Vision Online? How Online Vision Tests ….” 2 Jun. 2019, https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/online-vision-tests. Accessed 5 Dec. 2020.