Is it really possible to renew your prescription from the comfort of home? Learn more about this quick and convenient tool and when to consider it.
October 31, 2024
Written by
Katherine Solem
Expert review by
Siddarth Rathi, MD
Is it really possible to renew your prescription from the comfort of home? Learn more about this quick and convenient tool and when to consider it.
October 31, 2024
Written by
Katherine Solem
Expert review by
Siddarth Rathi, MD
An online prescription renewal is a quick and convenient way to renew your existing vision prescription without visiting an eye doctor’s office. It uses an online vision test to assess how well you see with your current glasses or contacts prescription. If your vision is stable, and you don’t have health concerns that can affect your vision, like an eye infection, diabetes, or glaucoma, and you meet other eligibility criteria, you may be able to renew your current prescription from the comfort of your home.
Read on to learn more about online prescription renewal and when you might consider it.
Renewing your prescription online requires taking a quick visual acuity test. This test is similar to reading an eye chart in an eye doctor’s office. But instead of looking at a chart projected on the wall, you use your computer or tablet screen to display the shapes that you read. Your results are recorded and sent to a licensed eye care professional for review.
To get started, visit our online prescription renewal tool.
First, you’ll share some information about yourself to make sure you’re a good candidate for online prescription renewal. Then, you’ll follow the instructions to take the exam. You’ll need your mobile device along with a computer or tablet to use as a display screen. The test itself involves matching shapes you see on your display screen to the shapes on your phone. It takes about five minutes to complete. (See our step-by-step instructions for more details.)
Once you complete the test, your answers are reviewed by a licensed eye care professional in your state. You should receive your results within 24 hours.
If your prescription is renewed, it will be loaded directly into your XP Health account.
You can use your renewed prescription to get new eyewear at XP Health or the eyewear retailer of your choice!
While many people can renew their prescriptions online, not everyone is eligible. To qualify, you must:
Online vision acuity tests measure how well you see with your current prescription eyewear. They do not check your overall vision health or for signs of eye infection or eye disease. For this, you need a comprehensive eye exam.
During a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor checks how well you see. They decide if your current vision prescription works or needs to be changed. They also perform a number of tests to assess your overall eye health. These tests allow your eye doctor to take a close-up look at various parts of your eye. They also let your doctor check for signs of eye disease or other vision problems.
Not sure when you should see an eye doctor for a comprehensive exam? Answer a few questions in our Vision Health Profile to get personalized care and exam recommendations.
Yes. There are several reasons why you can trust the results of an online prescription renewal test:
You should consider renewing your prescription online when you:
You will need the following to complete your online prescription renewal:
Check the vision care page on your XP Health account to see if online prescription renewal is part of your vision care program.
To renew your prescription online, you must take an online visual acuity test. The FDA has approved this test for people ages 18 to 55 only. As you get older, your vision changes. You become at increased risk for certain eye conditions and diseases. You need in-person exams to make sure your eyes are healthy — even if your vision is 20/20.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends adults ages 40 and older get a comprehensive eye exam1:
(Learn more about how your vision changes in your 40s and beyond.)
No problem! That’s exactly what online vision exams help with. Simply get started to see if you are eligible, and then take the test. Your results should be ready in 24 hours. They will be added directly to your XP Health account. Then you can shop our online store or take your prescription whatever you like.
You must have an existing vision prescription to renew your prescription online. If you’ve never had a prescription for vision correction, you must schedule an in-person appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. (XP Health members with a program that includes exam features through NVA can search our 99,000 in-network providers to find a local eye doctor and schedule an exam at no cost.) Your eye doctor will perform a comprehensive eye exam and issue a prescription if needed.
You must also see an eye doctor in person if you’ve never worn contact lenses before and want to start. Your eye doctor will perform a special contact lens fitting to make sure they fit properly and that you see clearly.
No, if your vision has changed, you need to schedule an in-person appointment. This way, your eye doctor can check your overall eye health and look for things that may affect your vision. They use multiple tools to assess how well you see to give you an accurate prescription.
1https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-exams-101
