We have come to rely on the internet for just about everything, from shopping to important health information. If you have an ailment, you just need to look up the symptoms and you get a plethora of possible answers, but it isn’t the same as getting a diagnosis from a doctor.
Online vision testing was becoming very popular, but with inaccurate results.
Which is why the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled online vision testing from industry. Deeming it not beneficial to the public’s health.
“Optometrists and other physicians know that eye exams are essential care and that new health technologies must always enhance the doctor-patient relationship and help deliver improved outcomes,” AOA President Barbara L. Horn, O.D.
Comprehensive eye exams done by an Optometrist evaluates 12 essential aspects of the health of your vision and overall function of your eyes. These include:
Medical case history- Visual acuity
- Color blindness
- Binocular vision
- Cover test to check eye alignment
- Retinoscopy
- Refraction
- Dry-eye assessment
- Slit-lamp exam
- Glaucoma test
- Pupil dilation
- Lens education
Online vision testing only incorporates one of these aspects. Which plays a big role in why online vision exams have been taken off the market.
This type of online test also puts you at risk for undiagnosed issues. Did you know one of the first signs of diabetes is blurred vision? And that last year alone, optometrist detected over 300,000 cases of undiagnosed diabetes during eye exams. “Our evidence suggests that these programs often give inaccurate and misleading information,” says Steven L. Loomis, OD, president of the American Optometric Association.
A partial or inaccurate vision test tends to lead to incorrect prescription glasses or contact lenses. “Visual acuity (how clearly each eye can see) is only a small portion of an eye exam. An in-office comprehensive eye exam also includes a patient history, measurements of the curvature of the cornea (critical for those who wear contact lenses), and an overall eye health evaluation (these can diagnose glaucoma, cataracts, and even diabetes),” according to an article in Prevention, This is What Happened When I Tried an Online Eye Exam.
At Lake Nona Eye Care we value our patient’s health. The more you know about the health of your eyes will help you make the best decision about you and your loved overall health and well being.
Don’t neglect your eyes, Lake Nona Eye Care is just the place for all your eye care needs. Contact us at our Moss Park or Eagle Creek offices.