Abdulkadir Oduncu, MDOphthalmologist

At-home eye tests

Simple eye awareness checks

The checks below can help you notice a change in your eyes. They are not a diagnostic tool.

Important: These tests and questionnaires are for information and awareness only. They are not a medical diagnosis and do not replace an eye examination. Factors such as screen size, brightness and viewing distance change the result. Whether the result looks normal or abnormal, regular eye examinations are essential, especially since some diseases such as glaucoma give no symptoms in the early stage. If you have a complaint or notice a change, please see an eye doctor.
TEST 01

Amsler Grid

A simple grid used both in the clinic and for home monitoring to help notice possible changes in your central vision (the macula).

How to do it:

  1. Put on your reading glasses if you have them. Look at the screen from about 30-40 cm.
  2. Cover one eye with your hand.
  3. With your open eye, fix your gaze on the central dot.
  4. Without moving your eye from the dot, notice whether the surrounding lines look straight or wavy/distorted/blurred/missing.
  5. Repeat with the other eye.
You are testing your right eye; cover your left eye.
When to see a doctor? If the lines look wavy, bent, broken or missing, or there is a blurred/dark area in the center, see an eye doctor without delay. This can be an early sign of a macular problem.
TEST 02

Astigmatism Dial

If some of the lines radiating outward from the center look different in sharpness, that can be a clue about astigmatism.

How to do it:

  1. With your glasses if you wear them, look from a normal distance to the screen.
  2. Cover one eye and look at the center.
  3. Notice whether lines in some directions look darker/sharper and others paler/blurred.
  4. Repeat with the other eye.
You are testing your right eye; cover your left eye.
When to see a doctor? If lines in some directions look markedly sharper/darker, an eye examination for astigmatism may be helpful.
TEST 03

Near-Vision Awareness

This is not a measurement; it only helps you notice whether you struggle when reading up close.

How to do it: With your glasses if you wear them, try reading the lines below in order from your normal reading distance (about 35-40 cm). You can also cover one eye and repeat with the other.

I can read this line comfortably. I can read this line comfortably. I can read this line comfortably. I can read this line comfortably.

When to see a doctor? If you struggle to read small lines or need to hold text farther away, an eye examination for reading glasses (presbyopia) or a change in prescription may be useful.
TEST 04

Dry-Eye Symptom Questionnaire

Dry eye is common with screen use and in contact-lens wearers; it also matters before and after refractive and cataract surgery. This short questionnaire is based on the symptom areas covered by validated dry-eye questionnaires (DEQ-5, OSDI). It is not diagnostic; it is for awareness.

1. How often do you feel dryness in your eyes?

2. Stinging, itching or a foreign-body sensation like grit in the eye?

3. Burning or a sense of discomfort?

4. Excessive watering for no clear reason?

5. Do symptoms increase as the day goes on (toward evening), with screen work or contact-lens use?

When to see a doctor? If symptoms make your daily life, screen work or contact-lens use difficult, an eye examination is recommended.
TEST 05

Vision and Daily Life Questionnaire

It helps you notice how much cataract and other vision problems affect daily life; it is adapted from the areas assessed by a validated cataract questionnaire (Catquest-9SF). It is not diagnostic.

1. Overall, how much does your vision make daily life difficult?

2. Do you struggle reading a newspaper, book or phone screen?

3. Do you struggle to see the television clearly or to recognize faces?

4. Do you struggle on stairs or to see obstacles on the ground?

5. When driving at night, do you get glare from lights or trouble seeing clearly?

When to see a doctor? If visual difficulty affects your daily tasks, reading or night driving, an eye examination is recommended.

Noticed a change?

The only way to be sure is an examination. Contact me for an appointment.

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