The internet offers us services that are affordable and convenient, from retail shopping to online eye exams, but how accurate are these vision tests? Here are 3 reasons why it’s always best to visit your Calgary optometrist for your annual checkup.
Just because you have clear vision, doesn’t mean your eyes are healthy. In fact, some of the most common vision conditions don’t show any signs in their early stages, which is why optometrists say it’s best to have yearly eye exams to protect your vision.
Regular checkups can have many benefits, including:
- Enhanced quality of life
- More comfortable and clear vision
- Early detection of vision and other medical conditions
- Immediate diagnosis, management, or treatment of any vision problems
Our Calgary Optometrists Help You Best Protect Your Eyesight
At Sunridge Eye Clinic, our optometrists offer a wide range of vision services for children, adults, and seniors, including eye exams, glaucoma testing, contact lens fitting, and eye emergency care, to ensure that your family can enjoy healthy and clear vision for many years to come.
Want to know more?
What is an Online Eye Exam?
While it’s true that the internet has made many things, from shopping to communication, easier, that convenience can sometimes come at the cost of quality, which is the case with online eye exams.
Today, there are many online services that offer the opportunity to take an eye test from the comfort of your own home. Using a series of shapes and letters, these tests claim to provide an accurate assessment of your vision in as little as 30 minutes.
So What’s The Catch?
While online eye exams may be convenient, they are very limited and can only measure visual acuity and refractive error. While some of the more advanced tests may check for light sensitivity or color blindness, none of them are able to check what really matters: the health of your eyes.
Only a comprehensive, in-person eye exam with your optometrist can help identify signs of serious, vision-threatening conditions, including:
- Glaucoma
- Keratokonus
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Online vs In-Person Eye Exams: Why Visiting an Optometrist is Always Best
While it may be tempting to have an eye exam from the comfort of your home, doing it alone without the aid of a professional optometrist can pose certain risks, such as:
1. Undetected Vision Conditions
An online test cannot detect the presence of serious vision conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration. In addition, there may be signs of other general health conditions in your eye, which an online exam cannot catch, but an optometrist can.
If you are experiencing changes in your vision, it’s always best to book an appointment with your Calgary optometrist.
2. You’ll Get the Wrong Prescription
Although some online services claim that their test results are verified by an eye doctor, without a professional present when you take the exam, it’s difficult to ensure it was carried out properly in the first place.
This means that often, online eye exams will result in you receiving the wrong prescription, which can then lead to other problems such as:
- Frequent headaches
- Eye strain
- Uncomfortable and unclear vision
- Sense of dizziness or lack of balance
While it may take a little more time out of your day, there is really no replacement when it comes to an accurate and comprehensive eye exam performed by a professional eye doctor.
What About Buying Eyeglasses Online?
If you have your prescription from an eye doctor, and are considering purchasing eyeglasses online, you may want to think again. While such sites claim to offer ‘not-to-beat’ prices and convenience, the disadvantages of ordering online are much more significant than these apparent advantages.
To an Online Store You Are Just a Faceless Consumer
One of the biggest advantages of visiting an optometrist is because, to a trusted eye care professional, you are a patient in their care. While the aim of an online store is to sell you a product, the aim of your optometrist is to protect your eye health and help you look and see your best.
Here are 3 reasons why you should buy your eyeglasses from an optometrist:
-
Your eye doctor will treat you as an individual. Not only will your eye doctor go to great lengths to measure your exact prescription, but they’ll also take into consideration factors such as your lifestyle and face shape to determine which eyeglasses and lenses will give you the best look and vision.
-
Your eye doctor can ensure correct positioning of your frame and lens, which is especially important if you wear bifocals, because improper positioning can make vision difficult, if not impossible.
-
Your eye doctor will ensure you have the right prescription, and fix it if they’ve made a mistake. This is unlike an online retailer, who shares no personal connection to you beyond their desire to sell your their products.
Call Today
Are you experiencing changes in your vision? Do you need a prescription upgrade? To find out more about our vision services, and how our optometrists can ensure your eyes are healthy and your vision is clear, visit our Calgary eye clinic at 2525 36 St NE, Unit 157.
Alternatively, you can contact our optometrists at 403-280-7518 or book an appointment online.
