Vision Health Checklist
Most people find close reading harder from their 40s (presbyopia), and the risk of several eye diseases rises with age. Only an eye examination measures your vision and eye health. This page does not estimate a "vision age". It counts signs and habits worth acting on.
Before you start
Method : Vision Health Checklist — a custom points score written by this site. Each answer adds or subtracts the points shown in the Methodology table below.
Validation : Unvalidated. The points have never been tested against any laboratory measurement or health outcome, and the result is not an age.
Review : not reviewed by a qualified clinician. Educational only — not a diagnosis or a medical test.
Sudden flashes, a shower of new floaters, a shadow or curtain over your vision, or sudden vision loss need urgent same-day care (NHS).
Your answers stay in this browser tab; nothing is sent or stored.
Answer the questions, then press Calculate score.
How to Use This Calculator
- Answer each question.
- Press Calculate score.
- Read the breakdown and suggestions.
Methodology & assumptions
Your score is the sum of the points below. The weights are our own judgement. The old version added made-up years per answer and gave a "vision age". It also treated floaters and colour-vision changes as age points; new floaters can be an emergency and colour changes need an examination, so they are now in the urgent note instead of the score.
| Factor | Answer | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Holding things further away to read small print | No | 0 |
| Sometimes | +1 | |
| Often | +2 | |
| Difficulty seeing at night or in dim light, or glare from headlights | No | 0 |
| Some | +1 | |
| Marked | +2 | |
| Dry, gritty or tired eyes | Rarely | 0 |
| Sometimes | +1 | |
| Most days | +2 | |
| Last full eye examination | Within 2 years | 0 |
| More than 2 years ago | +1 | |
| Never | +2 | |
| Sunglasses with UV protection outdoors | Usually | 0 |
| Sometimes | +1 | |
| Rarely or never | +1 | |
| Smoking | Never | 0 |
| Former | 0 | |
| Current | +2 | |
| Close relative with glaucoma or macular degeneration | No / don't know | 0 |
| Yes | +1 |
Worked examples
Often holds print away, some night difficulty, dry eyes sometimes, never examined, rarely wears UV sunglasses, smokes, family history: 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 = +10 points.
No symptoms, exam within 2 years, usually wears sunglasses, never smoked: 0 points.
Understanding your result
This counts signs and habits you reported. It is not a vision measurement and not an age. Health-agency guidance linked below is general and based on populations, not on this score.
Sources & further reading
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Eye Exams 101.
- National Eye Institute (NIH). Presbyopia.
- NHS. Retinal detachment — symptoms and urgent advice.
The points table is our own convention and is not taken from these sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Age Calculators
Brain Age Calculator
Habit score based on modifiable dementia risk factors (not a brain test)
Cognitive Age Calculator
Checklist of noticed memory and focus changes plus habits (not a cognitive test)
Memory Age Calculator
Checklist of memory changes and common treatable factors (not a memory test)
Reaction Time Age Calculator
Score of sleep, alcohol and other factors that slow reactions (not a timed test)
Explore more tools in this category
Browse All Health & Body Calculators