Most of us probably remember the eye chart from our school days. It has been used as a tool to diagnose ocular conditions for over 150 years. With advances in technology, however, a better and more effective tool has been developed which can more effectively understand the eye as well as help your doctor make more effective prescriptions for you. This short guide will explain to you the vision screener, the spot test, and what its results mean for your health.
What is the Spot Test
Instead of using that clunky old chart that you read from, when we conduct a spot test we utilize a small hand-held device, the vision screener, that combines several different tools into one effective mechanism. Through utilizing infrared light and some other information, the vision screener examines compares the data it captures to an individual’s age to decide whether additional examinations are necessary.
What it also does, it quickly determines what conditions you might have. If you fall within a certain range, then you are likely to have a particular condition for which you will receive additional screenings.
What it Detects
The Spot device is effective for detecting a large range of the most common ocular ailments. These include problems like myopia or shortsightedness, refractive errors which cause blurriness, astigmatism, and a host of other problems.
It has several additional benefits. Whereas a standard test may take several minutes, the Spot Test takes seconds and can capture images from up to three feet away. This is why it is particularly helpful for young children who may not be so easy to get to sit still. Not only this, it can be used on young children who have not learned how to read yet diagnosing problems that would take a lot longer to catch than before.
Interpreting Your Results
After the test is completed, you will be given a one-page report which summarizes the tests and the results. It will detail any problems found and give advice on whether additional examinations or prescriptive lenses are necessary. Essentially, you will receive a paper and it will list the different common eye conditions.
On the box to the right it will say “yes” or “no.” A yes refers to a referral to a complete eye examination for a specific problem such as farsightedness or anisometropia (or difference in the power between each eye).
Even though the test is highly accurate, it’s important to note that even if you receive a “no” on each of the tests, if you are experiencing vision problems such as blurriness then you will want a complete eye exam.
Quick and Simple
People love the Spot Vision Test because it is quick and effective. It is a great way to get to know what issues you might be suffering from and what will be the best course of treatment. So save time and get a better sense of your problems by having your doctor use a vision screener during your next eye examination.