Checking your eyesight at home allows you to screen for potential vision changes between comprehensive eye examinations. These self-administered tests are valuable tools for monitoring existing conditions or quickly spotting new developments that might require professional attention. Home tests serve as a preliminary assessment of visual function, providing general feedback on the clarity and quality of your sight. They are not intended to diagnose eye disease or replace a full evaluation by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Being proactive with these simple checks can offer an early warning, prompting you to seek professional care promptly if a significant change is detected.
Testing Distance Acuity
Checking how clearly you see objects far away, known as distance visual acuity, is best done using a standardized eye chart. A printable Snellen chart is the most common tool for this purpose, featuring rows of letters that decrease in size. To perform this test accurately, you need a well-lit space and a measurement of ten feet from where you will sit or stand to the chart. If you wear corrective lenses for distance activities like driving, you should wear them during this evaluation.
The chart should be affixed to a wall at your eye level. You must cover one eye completely without applying pressure to the eyelid. Starting from the top, read the smallest line of letters you can discern clearly. If you read the 20/40 line, it means you can see at 20 feet what a person with standard vision can see at 40 feet. The goal is to read the 20/20 line, which represents typical visual acuity.
Record the smallest line you were able to read, and then repeat the entire process for your other eye. Consistent results below the 20/40 line, or a noticeable difference between your eyes, indicates a reduction in distance vision that warrants professional consultation. This method is particularly useful for monitoring nearsightedness (myopia), where distant objects appear blurry.
Assessing Near Vision and Reading Clarity
A separate assessment focuses on near vision, which is the ability to see things clearly at a close range, such as when reading. This is primarily a concern for presbyopia, a natural, age-related decline in the eye’s ability to focus on close objects. A simple at-home test involves using a block of standard text, like a newspaper or a specific font size on a screen.
Hold the reading material at a normal distance, typically between 14 and 16 inches from your eyes. Cover one eye and read the text to assess the clarity of the smallest print. Note any need to hold the material further away to bring the text into focus, or if you experience eye strain or blurring. These symptoms suggest the lens inside the eye is becoming less flexible.
Repeat the exercise with the other eye, paying close attention to how much effort is required to maintain focus. If you find yourself consistently needing to extend your arms to read or see small details, it suggests that your near vision is changing. While these changes are common after age 40, they indicate a need for reading glasses or an updated prescription.
Identifying Distortions and Central Vision Issues
The Amsler grid is a specific tool used to check the quality of your central vision, which is the sharp, direct-ahead sight produced by the macula. This test is important for screening for conditions like age-related macular degeneration that affect this part of the retina. The grid is a square pattern of straight horizontal and vertical lines with a distinct dot in the center.
To perform the test, wear any glasses you use for reading and hold the grid 12 to 15 inches away from your face in a well-lit area. Cover one eye and focus intently on the central dot, ensuring your gaze does not drift to the surrounding lines. While maintaining your focus on the dot, observe the grid lines with your peripheral vision.
Repeat the process with the other eye, noting any areas where the lines appear wavy, bent, or distorted. A serious sign is a central blind spot, where a part of the grid seems to be missing or dark. Any new visual distortion in this central field warrants immediate attention from an eye care specialist.
Knowing When to Seek Professional Care
While home tests are helpful screening tools, they cannot replace the comprehensive evaluation of a full eye exam. Several symptoms indicate a medical concern that requires an immediate, in-person assessment by a specialist. Any sudden, unexplained loss of vision in one or both eyes should be treated as an emergency.
New or increased flashes of light, especially when accompanied by a shower of new floaters, can signal a retinal tear or detachment that requires urgent intervention. Persistent double vision, known as diplopia, or severe, sudden eye pain also requires immediate medical evaluation. Home tests do not assess intraocular pressure, which is a concern for conditions like glaucoma, nor do they check the overall health of the retina and optic nerve.
Other symptoms that home tests cannot diagnose include persistent redness or discharge, extreme light sensitivity, or any trauma to the eye area. If you observe any of the distortions on the Amsler grid, or if your results on the acuity charts show a sudden decrease in clarity, contact an eye care professional without delay. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to fully assess your eye health and vision needs.