In the News: MIT Professor Develops Cellphone that Checks Eyesight

Ever thought of checking your eyesight using your cellphone? Never have we, until we heard about Ramesh Raskar, an MIT Media Lab professor.

He and his students developed a system that uses a cellphone screen, a small plastic device, and software to test vision that allows you to calculate eyeglass prescription on the go. Professor Raskar states the results are as reliable as conventional eyesight tests that you find at an optometrists.

Supposedly the system, which is called Near-Eye Tool for Refractive Assessment, is inexpensive to produce and use and has the potential to help millions check on and improve their eyesight. There is not yet a definitive plan to roll out the Near-Eye Tool for Refractive Assessment to the masses. However, we hope that the test goes public soon. It is a great easy way for seniors who are concerned with their eyesight to check their eyesight without having to see the doctor. Because making an appointment, getting out of the house, and getting to the doctor isn’t always easy, especially for aging adults this new plan brings convenience to your own home.

We aren’t suggesting that aging adults use the Near-Eye Tool for Refractive Assessment as a substitute for a visit to the optometrist. However, it seems like an effective way to track your eyesight and if you seem a significant change in your vision, then make an appointment with the good doc.

Tech Talk Podcast: Testing Eyesight and