Launch of “WHOeyes”, a free RCSV-developed mobile app for vision testing

A mobile app for free vision testing called “WHOeyes”, developed by Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology, was officially launched globally on World Sight Day (12 October 2023).

WHOeyes is the first vision-test mobile app endorsed by the World Health Organization. It can assess users’ visual acuity and provide advice for protecting vision. A user simply installs WHOeyes on a smartphone, looks into the phone’s camera, and follows the system instructions; the app then measures the user’s near vision and distance vision. The app is now available in six languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

The design of WHOeyes is based on the conventional eye chart assessment used in clinical settings. The app has been tested for accuracy and is suitable for users aged 8 years and over.