Routine eye exams are essential to your overall eye health. However, it can be difficult to set an appointment if you have a busy schedule.
Fortunately, a digital eye exam can streamline your vision care, whether it's through sophisticated in-office equipment or a remote tele-optometry test on your smartphone or laptop.
Digital technology offers convenience and precision, but is it worth it? In this article, we’ll go over how digital eye exams work and whether you should consider getting one.-edge technology can determine your optical prescription and check for underlying eye diseases.
What is a Digital Eye Exam?
A digital eye exam covers the same aspects as a traditional eye exam. Depending on the eye care office, digital exam services may include:
- Measuring visual acuity
- Determining your vision prescription
- Mapping your corneal topography to fit contact lenses
- Retinal imaging
Digital devices and automated tests are often used as part of a standard eye examination. This cutting-edge technology can determine your optical prescription and check for underlying eye diseases.
How Does a Digital Eye Exam Work?
For in-office digital exams, your optometrist uses automated instruments to quickly and precisely measure your vision and eye health. On the other hand, remote digital refraction tests use your smartphone or computer to test your visual acuity and get prescription updates remotely.
During an in-office digital eye exam, your optometrist uses advanced technology to evaluate your vision rapidly and accurately, such as:
- Digital phoropter. Automatically measures refractive errors quickly, reducing guesswork.
- Corneal topographer. Maps your cornea’s curvature to detect irregularities affecting vision quality.
- Retinal imaging. Captures detailed photos of your retina to help detect conditions like diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration early.
Your doctor evaluates precise digital measurements of refractive errors, corneal health, and retinal condition. Results inform prescriptions and help screen for serious eye diseases, making digital exams faster and comparable to traditional methods.
How Does Remote Digital Refraction Work?
Remote digital refraction is ideal for routine vision checks and updating your prescription from home. First, answer simple questions about your eye health on your smartphone or laptop.
Position yourself about 10 feet from your screen in a well-lit room, following clear instructions to perform vision tasks. A licensed optometrist remotely reviews your test results through a secure video call.
They confirm your measurements and electronically issue your updated prescription if appropriate. While this is a good way to monitor your vision, it’s not a comprehensive eye exam.
What are the Advantages of a Digital Eye Exam?
A thoroughly performed traditional eye exam can still be just as accurate for all intents and purposes. However, this takes a lot more time and effort on the part of the optometrist.
Digital eye exams are quick and often provide accurate optical measurements. Digital technologies can also assist in detecting signs of conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.
Digital exams can provide more precise measurements for some aspects of eye health. This gives a precise map of your visual system to create a more comprehensive understanding of your eye health.
Are Digital Eye Exams Accurate?
Remote digital refractions offer accuracy comparable to traditional methods for many routine needs. 2024 comparative studies found remote/tele-refraction produced prescriptions comparable to in-person care, with mean differences around 0.1 diopters and similar visual comfort.
Similarly, a 2024 study found technician-assisted remote refraction closely matched in-person measurements, with results within approximately 0.1 diopters of traditional methods.
However, remote digital tests can't detect critical eye health indicators like intraocular pressure, peripheral retina abnormalities, or early cataracts. Comprehensive dilated exams remain essential for detecting and managing these conditions.
How Much Does a Digital Eye Exam Cost?
In-office digital exams generally range from about $50 to $200. Remote prescription renewals typically run about $15–$35 (provider-dependent).
Additionally, many private insurers offer tele-optometry coverage, but the specifics can vary by state. Digital exams also qualify as eligible expenses through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), providing additional savings.
Where To Get a Digital Eye Exam
Many vision chains and private optical practices offer digital eye-exam technology, but availability varies by office. However, traditional equipment is often still available.
To find out if a location uses digital technology, check their website or contact the office. Additionally, Clarifye eye exams are provided primarily by LensCrafters.
Most LensCrafters locations feature an independent optometrist on-site or in an adjacent store. There are more than 1,000 locations across the United States and Canada. Nearly all of them offer their proprietary digital eye exam services.
What is a Clarifye Eye Exam?
Clarifye measures the optical characteristics of a person’s visual system to an incredible degree. It can pinpoint tiny changes in your eyes that occur over time.
It does this by measuring multiple optical properties of the eye rather than just a small area of the pupil. This intricate mapping creates a digital "fingerprint" for the eye, including the cornea's exact curvature and measurement.
Clarifye can help diagnose conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and visual disturbances like starbursts or halos. Pricing varies by location because independent doctors at or next to LensCrafters set their own exam fees.
In this article
