Testing your child’s vision at home

Introduction

This information leaflet will explain how you can measure your child’s vision at home using an online test called DigiVis Distance Visual Acuity (DVA).

What is DigiVis DVA?

DigiVis DVA is an online test of your child’s vision. In an eye clinic, a nurse or orthoptist uses a wall mounted letter chart to check vision. DigiVis DVA enables you to test your child’s vision at home as accurately as we can measure it in clinic. The DigiVis DVA children’s test has cartoons and is suitable from the age of 4 and upwards.

Why have I been asked to do home vision testing?

Your clinical team feel that your child could benefit from home assessment of their vision so that you are able to:

• Assess your child’s vision accurately before or during future telephone or video appointments.
• Monitor your child’s vision in-between appointments to detect any improvement or worsening.

How do I use DigiVis DVA?

Your clinical team will send you a link by SMS to your mobile phone or by email. This link will give you access to one or more tests. Clicking on the link will take you straight to the DigiVis website to do the test.

You will need:

• Two digital devices –any combination of smartphones, tablet, laptop, desktop.
• An internet connection.
• A way of measuring two metres (for example using a tape measure).

A standard sized card (like a business card, ID card, credit or debit card) –this is only used for sizing the screen, no details or payment are taken.

The easy-to-follow instructions within the application will take you through the testing process. Once testing is completed, the vision results will be shown on your phone screen. Please save these by taking a screenshot, sending them to your own email address or phone by SMS when prompted.

What if I am unable to access this test at home?

If you do not have access to suitable digital devices or you do not feel confident using the internet, please let us know and we can make other arrangements. If you prefer to have help when using the DigiVis DVA application for the first time, we can talk you through it during a video appointment. There is a version available in clinic to try out, if you would like to do this just ask the orthoptist or nurse when you are next in the eye clinic.

Benefits

Being able to check your child’s vision at home can have the following benefits:

• It may reduce the number of times you have to attend the hospital for clinic appointments. This can reduce time off work, school and your travel expenses.
• It may help you to detect any changes in vision between appointments.
• It can give helpful feedback to you and your child about the progress they are making with their treatment.
• Doing the testing at home may be a more relaxing experience for your child.

Risks

DigiVis DVA has been fully tested for accuracy and has been in clinical use for several years. If you follow the set up instructions, you can be confident in the test result. To ensure accuracy, it is important that you:

• Measure (rather than guess) the 2 metre viewing distance.
• Ensure that your child is wearing their glasses (if used).
• Check that your child is only using one eye at a time. Use a patch or folded tissue to cover the other eye.

Alternatives

If you would rather not do home vision assessments just let us know and we will arrange face-to-face appointments as usual. You can change your mind at any time.

My Chart

We would encourage you to sign up for MyChart. This is the electronic patient portal at Cambridge University Hospitals that enables patients to securely access parts of their health record held within the hospital’s electronic patient record system (Epic). It is available via your home computer or mobile device

More information is available on our website: My Chart

Contacts/Further information

Visit DigiVis (opens in a new tab) for further information about the DigiVis distance visual acuity test. If you would like to discuss home vision testing for your child with the clinic team please contact:

• orthoptic department: 01223 216528 cuh.orthoptics@nhs.net
• paediatric ophthalmology nursing team: cuh.paedophth@nhs.net

References/ Sources of evidence

Thirunavukarasu, A.J., Mullinger, D., Rufus-Toye, R.M. et al. Clinical validation of a novel web-application for remote assessment of distance visual acuity. Eye 36, 2057–2061 (2022). University of Cambridge (opens in a new tab)

Allen L, Thirunavukarasu AJ, Podgorski S, et al Novel web application for self-assessment of distance visual acuity to support remote consultation: a real-world validation study in children BMJ Open Ophthalmology 2021;6:e000801. doi: 10.1136/bmjophth-2021-000801