Check your eyes
Four short screening tests you can do at home: how far you can see, astigmatism, a check of the centre of your vision, and contrast. They take about ten minutes and tell you how soon to see an eye doctor.
- Start
- Set up
- Distance
- Astigmatism
- Centre
- Contrast
- Results
Before you start
Is any of this happening to you now, or did it start in the last few days?
Please get care today. Don't use these tests. These can be signs of something that needs a doctor the same day. Go to an eye doctor, an urgent care clinic or an emergency department now. If you can't get there, ask us for help and we'll mark it urgent.
For adults. Children can do it with an adult helping; children under five should see a professional instead.
Set up your screen
Letters have to be an exact size for the tests to mean anything. Hold a bank card flat against the screen over the box, and move the slider until the box is exactly the size of the card. All bank cards are the same size.
We used the size you set last time on this device. Check it still matches your card.
Measure it with a tape measure or a piece of string if you can. Turn the screen brightness up, and avoid light shining on the screen.
How far you can see
You'll need someone to help. Stand 3 metres from the screen. Your helper stays by the screen.
- Cover one eye with your palm. Don't press on it.
- A letter E appears, pointing up, down, left or right. Point the way its arms point.
- Your helper taps that arrow. If you can't tell, guess, or they tap "Can't tell".
No helper? Prop the screen up, say each answer out loud, and walk back to tap it. It's slower, but it works.
Right eye: cover your left eye
Now the left eye. Cover your right eye with your palm.
Astigmatism
Hold the screen at arm's length. Wear your glasses if you have them. Cover one eye, look at the centre of the dial, then do the same with the other eye.
The centre of your vision
This grid checks the macula, the part of the eye you read and see faces with. Hold the screen about 30 cm away (a ruler's length). Wear your reading glasses if you use them. Cover one eye and look only at the dot in the middle.
Tap any squares that look wavy, blurry, dark or missing. Then do the same with the other eye.
Please see an eye doctor within a day or two. New wavy or missing areas in the centre of your vision can be a sign of a problem in the macula that needs quick treatment. We'll mark this urgent if you ask us for help.
Contrast
Some people see sharp letters fine but struggle with faint ones, in dim light or fog. Hold the screen at arm's length with both eyes open, wearing your glasses. Turn the brightness up.
A letter appears; tap the one that matches. The letters get fainter until you can't see them. Guess if you're not sure.
Your results
Your answers stay in this browser. If you ask us for help, we only receive how soon we suggest you're seen (routine, soon or urgent). You can show the rest to the team yourself on your request's page.
Screening only. These tests can't diagnose anything, can't replace an eye exam, and don't give a prescription. Screens differ, so results are approximate. If your eyes worry you, see an eye doctor, even if every test here looked fine.