Online Eye Test vs Eye Exam: Can a Test at Home Replace It?

No, an online eye test does not replace an eye exam. It tries to measure one thing, the correction you might need. An exam also checks the health of your eyes. The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) says that working out a person's correction without an optometrist or ophthalmologist physically examining their eyes is not an eye exam.

Can an online eye test replace an eye exam?

No. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) says "a home vision test is no substitute for an exam by an eye care provider," and that a comprehensive exam will be much more accurate.

The CAO says the same in its position statement on online "eye exams." Without a physical examination of the eyes and an eye health assessment, it is not an eye exam. Claiming otherwise, the CAO says, misleads people into thinking their eye health needs have been met.

What does an online eye test measure?

Your refraction, the lens power that would let you see clearly. The American Optometric Association (AOA) says online vision tests "attempt to replace one element of an eye examination, the refraction, to yield a prescription for glasses or contacts."

The AOA notes that the refraction "is only one of many tests performed during an eye examination," and that online tests "may give inaccurate or misleading information, and can give patients a false sense of security."

What can't an online test see?

The health of your eyes. The CAO says eye exams can detect eye diseases and disorders such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachments and macular degeneration, as well as other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

According to the CAO, many serious eye conditions may not have obvious symptoms, and some only show symptoms at an advanced stage. You can see clearly and still have a problem inside the eye. Our article on why eye exams are important explains what an exam can find.

Can you get a glasses prescription online in Québec?

In Québec, the law governs eye examinations. The Optometry Act defines the practice of optometry as any act "related to examination or functional analysis of the eyes and assessment of visual disorders." Ophthalmic lenses are part of it too.

The Dispensing Opticians Act says an optician fits, adjusts and sells ophthalmic lenses only "upon the prescription of a physician or optometrist." To have prescription glasses made in Québec, you need a prescription from one or the other.

What about contact lenses?

You also need a fitting. The AAO says that before filling a contact lens prescription, "you also need what's called a 'contact lens fitting' to see if they're right for you."

In Québec, according to the Ordre des optométristes du Québec (OOQ), there is only one prescription, whether the lenses go in glasses or are worn as contacts. The material, curve and other lens parameters are chosen by the professional who fills the prescription. Our contact lenses page shows what we offer.

What is a home vision test good for?

Noticing a change. The AAO offers printable letter charts to check vision at home, for children and adults, and reminds readers that the test does not replace an exam.

Some apps use the Amsler grid to look for problem spots in your field of vision, which can show changes caused by diseases such as macular degeneration. The AAO says these apps don't replace a comprehensive eye exam, but they may help you manage ongoing eye conditions and "alert you when a doctor's input is needed."

If an online test shows your vision has changed, that is a good time for an eye test in Montréal, in a clinic, with an optometrist.

What does an in-clinic eye exam check?

According to the CAO, the optometrist assesses your case history, the quality of your vision, the outside and inside health of your eyes, how they adjust focus, eye movement, eye coordination and side vision. Colour vision and depth perception may also be checked.

At the PrimeVision clinic, the optometrist's instruments include a Nidek Tonoref III, which measures refraction, the curve of the cornea (keratometry) and eye pressure (tonometry). The clinic also has a Canon RS-330 for OCT imaging of the retina and a Haag-Streit Octopus 900 for visual field testing. The optometrist chooses which tests your visit needs. Our page on glaucoma screening and OCT explains what OCT is for.

How often should you have an eye exam?

For people with no risk factors or symptoms, the CAO recommends an exam every two years from 20 to 64, and every year from 65, or as your optometrist advises. For children, it recommends a first exam between 6 and 9 months, at least one exam between 2 and 5, then one every year from 6 to 19. At PrimeVision, we see children from age 4.

The CAO says only the examining clinician can decide when you should come back, based on your health and family history. If you are 65 or older, our article on eye exams after 65 explains what the optometrist checks.

Can you book your eye exam online?

Yes. The exam happens at the clinic, but you can book it online. Our page on eye exams in Montréal explains how the visit works and has the booking link.

At PrimeVision, 9520 Boulevard de l'Acadie, Suite 222, in Montréal (Ahuntsic), optometrists and a licensed optician work under one roof. You can have your eyes examined and your glasses made in the same place. RAMQ covers eye exams for children under 18 and adults 65+.

Sources

• Online Eye Exams, Canadian Association of Optometrists position statement, reviewed May 2014.
• The Eye Exam, Canadian Association of Optometrists.
• Recommended Frequency of the Comprehensive Eye Examination, Canadian Association of Optometrists, reviewed July 2024.
• Vision Test Kiosks and Online Vision Tests: What You Should Know, American Optometric Association.
• Home Vision Tests for Children and Adults, American Academy of Ophthalmology.
• Eye Health Screening Apps May Signal Need for Eye Exam, American Academy of Ophthalmology.
• How to Read an Eyeglasses Prescription, American Academy of Ophthalmology.
• Questions fréquentes (grand public), Ordre des optométristes du Québec (in French, accessed October 24, 2026).
• Optometry Act, CQLR c. O-7, section 16, LégisQuébec.
• Dispensing Opticians Act, CQLR c. O-6, section 9, LégisQuébec.
• Retinal Detachment, National Eye Institute.