Online Refraction Fails To Detect Elevated Eye Pressure, GMA Investigation Finds

In a recent ABC Good Morning America (GMA) segment, AOA President Dr. Andrea Thau called online eye tests “really foolhardy and dangerous.”

The GMA investigative segment focusing on Opternative found that the online eye refraction failed to detect elevated eye pressure in a patient. GMA recruited eight volunteers to take the online test and then be examined by an ophthalmologist.

“It is taking a risk because you’re doing one small fraction of the whole eye exam with a potential for missing things that can be very significant to your eye health and your systemic health,” Dr. Thau said in the segment.

The ophthalmologist found that one 35-year-old volunteer who had no history of eye disease and 20/20 vision had elevated pressure in his eyes, a risk factor for glaucoma, which was not detected by Opternative. In addition, three of the Opternative-generated prescriptions were not an exact match to the doctor’s findings.

The report pointed out that patients may not know they have glaucoma until they start experiencing vision loss. It noted the disease is treatable if it's caught early enough, which is why experts say it’s important that people get their eyes checked by an eye doctor.

The online COA Member Media Center has two entertaining and educational videos showcasing the limits and dangers of online refractions that members are urged to place on their Facebook or other social media sites as well as their website.