Image credit: Community Eye Health on Flickr via CC BY-NC 2.0 – no changes were made to the image]
When it comes to staying in the best of health, Brits could do more to care for their eyes. Research released by National Eye Health Week last September 2024 notes that over 19 million people in the UK forego regular eye tests. That’s despite the fact that 49% of the country’s adults believe their vision is vital for maintaining a high quality of life.
However, neglecting to get these tests can do more than just affect one’s eyesight. These assessments can also detect a range of non-ocular conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and even brain tumours—which means Brits who skip eye tests are actually risking poorer health on the whole. Why do they pass on these exams in the first place? Many state inaccessibility and financial constraints as some common barriers to access, causing patients and eye care professionals alike to call for more convenient and accessible eye tests.
App developers have been among the first to respond to this issue. Many of today’s smartphones already provide eye care features. Most Android models, for example, can accommodate third-party apps that enlarge icons and fonts for improved visibility. Meanwhile, iOS 17 offers Time in Daylight and Screen Distance tools for users who want to prevent the eye-damaging effects of excess screen time. As such, it’s no surprise that developers have come up with dedicated eye test apps.
The question is: can these apps replace visits to the optometrist altogether?
How traditional eye tests work
To understand how mobile apps are revolutionising eye care, it helps to know how optometrists usually assess vision health. A quick look at the Vision Express website shows that, rather than setting appointments by telephone, Brits can currently book an eye test online, which already helps with accessibility. Regardless of how patients set an appointment, however, the test itself is done in person.
Because traditional eye tests are done physically, licenced and experienced optometrists can use the advanced medical equipment they have on hand to conduct basic checks for 20/20 vision—as well as more comprehensive exams that assess UV damage, measure eye dryness, take 3D scans of the eyes to spot blindness-causing diseases like glaucoma, and even check if a child’s eyes are developing normally. Contact lens wearers can also avail of dedicated eye tests that help them fit new lenses, provide dedicated contact lens prescriptions, or check for lens-related infections.
Following an eye test, optometrists provide patients with any necessary prescriptions for corrective eyewear, as well as tailored lifestyle advice patients can use to better care for their eyes amid their usual daily routines.

The rise of the eye test app
Peek Acuity developed one of the world’s first eye test apps in 2015. Designed by British ophthalmologists, it leverages a 3D-printed adapter that turns any smartphone camera into a tool that can comprehensively image and scan the eyes for abnormalities. That allowed doctors to deliver eye care to rural areas despite lacking the medical equipment usually found in an optical clinic.
Thanks to a little more research and testing, we can now leverage eye test apps available to the public on demand. These are usually offered by eyewear retailers. Unlike traditional and even Peek’s eye tests, these can potentially replace physical vision assessment altogether.
Take Warby Parker’s Virtual Vision Test app, which is available on the App Store. Each test starts with a quick questionnaire to determine the user’s eligibility for remote assessment. The app will then display an eye chart for users to read just like they would during an in-person exam. The results of this five-minute test are remotely sent to a licenced optometrist, who will approve the user’s new prescription. These eye tests are free if they don’t recommend prescription updates, making them even more affordable.
Can apps really replace physical eye tests?
The first step to answering this question involves determining if eye test apps are actually effective. Current eye health research suggests the answer is yes. One study, which pulled data from eye test apps across the globe—including the UK’s Peek Acuity—concluded that patients can successfully use mobile apps to spot vision impairments on demand. That means they can provide a high-quality, repeatable, and cost-effective method accessible to more people.
However, they do have their limitations. Currently, eye test apps can only replicate basic tests, not comprehensive ones—meaning they can’t check for aspects of eye health beyond visual acuity. Similarly, apps that facilitate remote eye tests can’t measure the eyes. Currently, they can only image them or test a user’s vision using an eye chart. That means contact lens wearers in particular cannot use them to receive or renew their prescriptions.
Ultimately, these apps are great for specifically renewing glasses prescriptions—or for determining if you need to visit an actual eye care professional in person. That alone can help Brits only get and pay for tests when needed without risking adverse health outcomes in the process. When it comes to fully replacing physical assessments, however, these apps have a long way to go.