At-home vision assessments no replacement for in-office visits

With COVID-19 keeping many of us at home, companies claiming to offer at-home vision tests are ramping up their marketing, despite the fact that there is no U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved at-home device that people can use to self-conduct a vision assessment, let alone a full eye examination. These devices aren’t even proven to provide an accurate vision prescription. NCL has long recommended an annual, in-person eye exam as part of consumers’ annual health and wellness routines.

“Consumers need to be wary of products that mistakenly claim that their at-home devices can provide an eye exam or a vision prescription and should instead consult their eye doctors who are available to help provide safe solutions,” said NCL Associate Director of Health Policy Nissa Shaffi.