Home Eye Tests: Amsler Grid, Reading Check and One-Eye Test (Video)

Transcript

Three checks, ten minutes, one eye at a time?

Three checks, ten minutes, one eye at a time?

Home Eye Checks

In just ten minutes you can run three simple eye checks at home, and later I'll reveal the one habit that catches hidden vision loss.

Make an Amsler Grid

Grab a piece of paper, draw a ten-centimeter square, mark tiny five-millimeter lines to make a twenty-by-twenty grid, then hold it thirty centimeters away while you cover one eye and stare at the centre dot.

What to Look For

If the lines stay straight, all four corners are clear, and you see the whole square, your central vision looks normal. Any waviness, dark spots, or a missing centre signals a possible macular issue that needs a professional check.

Reading distance

Standard near-vision text is comfortably read at about thirty-five centimeters; if you need to hold it farther, it may be early cataract or presbyopia.

Newspaper Near-Vision Test

Sit by a window, hold a newspaper about thirty-five to forty centimeters away, wear your reading glasses if you have them, cover one eye and try the smallest body text. Switch eyes and compare how far you need to pull the paper.

Why Cover Each Eye

Your brain tends to favor the stronger eye, blending the view so you might not notice a slow decline. By covering each eye regularly, say, at the same window each month, you can spot differences before they become serious.

The one habit to catch hidden loss

Make it a daily habit to cover one eye, look at the same sign or tree across the street, then switch. Any new blur, wobble, or extra distance needed flags a problem that should be checked by an eye professional promptly.

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Read the full guide

The full guide is on thecareonline.com. General information only, so check with your doctor for your own case.