New ZEISS Online Vision Screening now globally available

Aalen, Germany | 30. September 2021 | ZEISS Vision Care

No digital product can replace a visit at the optician. But it can deliver initial clues about visual performance and therefore help to connect consumers with eye care professionals. With a major expansion now covering five testing areas and global availability, the new ZEISS Online Vision Screening can do exactly that.

The ZEISS Online Vision Screening app can be accessed from anywhere: at home, on the go, on a smartphone, tablet or desktop PC. The app's intuitive interface guides the user through five areas in a few minutes: visual acuity, contrast vision, color vision, astigmatism and visual field. As consumers with no expert knowledge use the app, each check was designed in particular with ease of use and user-friendliness in mind.

Starting the app is very easy. The screening is available free of charge and the user is not required to register, which makes it not only fast and convenient, but also ensures that personal health information is not stored. The user's screen simply needs to be calibrated relative to the size of a credit card. The results are shown according to the regional standard: including vision 20/20, 6 meters or the decimal scale. There is a FAQ section and a Help area for those with a need for more information.

The symbol used for testing visual acuity and contrast sensitivity is the internationally standardized Landolt C. While checking visual acuity, smaller and smaller variations of the C-shaped symbol are shown to the user. For the contrast sensitivity test, the symbol remains the same size, but changes in brightness. This test determines which shade of gray the user is just able to see. For the test for possible astigmatism, the user is shown a striped pattern and must identify potential differences in shades of black or contrast. Color vision is tested by means of a standard clinical test in which numbers are displayed in colors which the user must be able to distinguish. Persons with color vision deficiencies will have a more difficult time identifying the numbers, or they will not be able to see them at all. The so-called "Amsler Test" (central visual field test) is used to test the extent to which there are deficiencies or distortions in the user's central field of vision.

In this era in which the digital has become the new normal, increased demands are being placed on our eyes. Screens in all sizes are everywhere, whether at work or in our leisure time. With poor lighting conditions and the enormous amount of near work, our eyes can have a hard time. Therefore regular vision testing is a must. At times the barrier to getting your vision tested can be large, especially during a pandemic, and consumers may be wondering whether it is time to visit an eye care specialist. In many cases, they underestimate how soon they will be due for another vision screening. This is because visual performance deteriorates slowly. When in doubt, a digital test is a practical first step. And there is no reason to believe that the push towards the digital will let up once the pandemic is over. Professional vision screening, in-depth examinations and consultation for the right eye glass lens solution must always be done in an expert's store.

Consumer expectations have shifted as well. As a starting point, a high-quality online screening is the first part of the customer journey. Today for example, apps are used extensively for fitness and health-related activities. It is therefore only logical that an extensive app for checking visual performance is now also being used.

Apart from the ZEISS Online Vision Screening, an in-depth vision screening should be performed regularly by an eye care specialist. The closest eye expert can be found via the dealer search on the ZEISS website or on the results page at the end of the app.