Online Eye Checkups: Do They Work?

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Getting your eyes checked can be a strain on young, busy people.

"I've skipped actually the last two years, I think, my eye appointments, because it's hard for me to find a day where I can dedicate a whole day," said Eddie Sheehy of Moon Township.

Now, there's an online option: a site called Opternative. For people 18 to 40, the site will check your eyes for a glasses prescription for $40, or a contacts prescription for $60.

Two local students volunteered to try it.

To do the test, you need a laptop, a smartphone, a credit card, your shoe size, 12 feet of space, and your current prescription.

On the laptop screen, Opternative will present letters, lines, shapes and figures. You respond with your smartphone.

The whole process takes about 30 minutes.

One of these students ended up with a prescription. One of them didn't.

"It says, 'We're sorry, our exam is unable to provide you with a prescription,' Sheehy said. "Then, it said go to an eye doctor."

He was not surprised.

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"I was ten feet away from my computer, and took my glasses off, and immediately I couldn't see anything, so I had no idea how that test was going to work," Sheehy said.

One of our volunteers who actually got a prescription, also got an email saying the exam picked up with his color vision, and urged him to see a doctor. So, it seems the online exam doesn't substitute for a doctor visit, but encourages you to go at every opportunity.

This is reassuring to Dr. Noah Eger of the Eger Eye Group, who sees issues with this type of testing.

"From diabetes to glaucoma to cataracts to macular degeneration, this type of test is not going to be able to track that," he said. "It does not address binocularity, the ability to use both eyes together. Looking for subtle eye turns, looking for something called amblyopia. That would be an eye that just simply not able to correct to 20/20."

Furthermore, to properly fit contact lenses, there is a medical device doctors are required to have to see the lens on the eye, how it fits with the eyelid and how the cornea looks.

"I just don't think it at any time it's going to replace a face to face meeting with your eye care professional," Dr. Eger said.

Considering the amount of time and effort it took, and the end results, our volunteers would agree.

"I like the convenience of it, I like the idea of being able to do it at home. But, actually doing it at home was a little more difficult. I'm not 100 percent sure I was able to do it correctly. So, I think I'd rather go to a doctor," Sheehy said.

"It's easier going to a doctor, because it's just how it's been done and I guess I'm not used to it. I think it's more convenient that you can do it at home," said Matt Merlino, of Moon Township. "I did enjoy it. Because it was just something different."

Not getting a prescription at all was disappointing for some.

"It says there's a 99.4 percent satisfaction rate, with people getting prescriptions from there. But, I guess that number's so high because they only give you a prescription if your eyes will meet their criteria," Sheehy said.