Free online eye test

Visual acuity tells how small details the eye can see. In the US it is written as 20/20, in the UK as 6/6 and in most of Europe as a decimal (1.0). 20/40 means that you see from 20 feet what a person with normal vision sees from 40 feet. The test shows your result on all these scales and as logMAR.

The Amsler grid checks the area of sharp central vision, the centre of the retina. Changes there do not always reduce visual acuity, so the grid is worth doing separately, especially after the age of 50.

The pinhole test tells whether glasses of the right strength would help. If your vision improves clearly when you look through a needle hole, the next visit is to an optician. If it does not improve, we recommend an eye doctor.

The test is an indicative screening. It is not a medical device, it does not give a diagnosis, and it does not replace an examination by an optician or eye doctor.

You need a computer or tablet, a bank card or ruler, a tape measure and preferably a helper. A phone screen is too small for testing distance vision, but you can use it for near vision and the Amsler grid.

1. Hold a bank card against the screen and make the picture as wide as the card. Bank, credit, ID and library cards are all the same standard size (85.6 × 54 mm).
2. You can also measure with a ruler in centimetres or inches, or with an A4 or Letter sheet.
3. Do not change the browser zoom after measuring.

1. Measure the distance from the eyes to the screen with a tape measure, preferably 10 feet or 3 metres. Poor vision is measured more precisely from a shorter distance.
2. Cover one eye with your palm without pressing.
3. The person being tested tells which way the arms of the E point, and the helper presses the arrow. Guessing is allowed.
4. Three correct out of five moves to a smaller size. Test the right and left eye separately.

1. Put on reading glasses, distance about 30–40 cm (12–16 inches).
2. Cover one eye and keep looking at the centre dot.
3. Note whether all lines are straight, or whether you see waves, missing parts or dark patches.

Is an online eye test accurate?
When the screen and the distance are measured, the symbols are the same size as on an optician’s chart. A home test is still a screening: lighting, screen brightness and covering the eye affect the result. It tells whether you should have your eyes checked, but it does not replace an examination.

What does 20/20 vision mean?
20/20 is normal vision. It is the same as 6/6 and decimal 1.0. 20/40 equals 6/12 and 0.5, and 20/200 equals 6/60 and 0.1.

Is my vision good enough for driving?
The EU minimum for a car driving licence is visual acuity 0.5 (20/40) with both eyes together, with or without glasses. Many US states use the same 20/40 limit. The test shows whether your vision is below this limit. For a licence, vision is always checked by a doctor or an optician.

What is an Amsler grid?
A grid whose centre dot you look at with one eye at a time. If the lines look wavy or a part is missing, there may be a change in the area of sharp vision. In that case we recommend an examination by an eye doctor soon.

How far from the screen should I sit?
Distance vision is best tested from 10 feet or 3 metres, but 13, 6 and 3 feet also work. Near vision is tested from 16 inches or 40 cm. The test tells which acuities your screen and distance can measure.

Does the test replace an optician or eye doctor?
No. The test does not measure eye pressure or see the back of the eye. It tells your level and gives a recommendation: whether your vision is good or whether you should book an optician or an eye doctor.

Does the eye test cost anything?
No. The test is free and needs no sign-up. The results are saved only in your own browser.

We are a software company from Finland. The eye test is free, and we also make games and apps for phones and TVs.