Print This Page
Opticians
Opticians test your sight and examine the health of your eyes. Some types of optician are trained to recognise abnormalities and diseases that are revealed in the eye, such as diabetes and glaucoma. After testing your eyes, some opticians will also fit and supply glasses or contact lenses to match your prescription, if they are needed.
The NHS Help Card is an initiative from NHS North East which aims to help and support you whenever you visit your NHS hospital, doctor, dentist, optician or pharmacist.
The card features a blank panel on the front where you can write down any special requirements and a tick list of different languages on the reverse for those who cannot speak English. Simply show the card to a member of staff if you need help, for example:
- if you are unable to walk far
- if you are confused, lost or don’t know where to go
- if you cannot speak or hear
- if you do not understand English
- if you have a learning disability
NHS Help Cards are available free by contacting your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). See below for contact details, or visit the website. For more information on the Help Card visit northeast NHS website
How to find a local optician
The North East Family Health Services Agency website allows you to search for a list of local opticians using your postcode.
What to expect from your optician
There are three types of optician:
Optometrists
Optometrists (also called ophthalmic opticians) carry out tests on your eyes to check the quality of your sight; look for signs of eye disease which may need treatment from a doctor or eye surgeon; and prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses.
Ophthalmic medical practitioners
Ophthalmic medical practitioners are medical doctors, who are also trained to carry out eye tests and prescribe glasses.
Dispensing opticians
Dispensing opticians fit and sell glasses, but do not test eyes. They can give you advice on types of lens, such as single vision or bifocal, and can help you to choose frames.
For information about what happens when you visit your optician for an eye test, visit the HealthyEyes website, or read the RNIB's information Having an eye test.
How often to go to the optician
How often you should go to your optician for an eye test depends on your age.
At 40 years old you should have a full eye test with follow-up tests about every two years (or more often if recommended by your optometrist). Age increases the risk of cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration, but, if detected early, the development of some diseases can be slowed or halted.
At 70 years old and beyond, you should have a full eye test every year, even if you think your vision is good. (If you are aged 60 years old or over your eye test will be free.)
Six million older people in the UK are needlessly risking their sight by not having regular eye tests. Sight loss is no longer an unavoidable consequence of ageing. Many conditions could be prevented or treated if they are caught early enough. However, 47% per cent of people aged over 60 years old fail to have their eyes tested regularly.
If you have any notable change to your vision in between check-ups, you should make an appointment to see your local optician immediately to have your eyes tested.
Am I entitled to a free NHS eye test?
If you are aged 60 years old or over, or in receipt of certain benefits, you are entitled to a free eye test. For further information, visit our section on Help with health costs.
What if I am housebound?
You can ask to have your eyes tested at home if you are housebound, or if you find it difficult to get out because of illness or disability. If you need an NHS home visit, this should be free of charge if you are aged 60 years old or over.
Healthcall Optical and Hearing Services are funded by the NHS and provide eye examinations in the home (including in care homes) for people who are unable to visit a high street optician unaccompanied. For more information, contact them using the details given below, or visit their website.
The Outside Clinic can also provide eye examinations in your home. To find out about the services they offer, contact them using the details given below, or visit their website.
Tynedale Eye Clinic offer free eye tests and can visit people in their own homes, in care homes or day centres. Their Optometrists are trained to work with older people and people with physical or mental health problems. The service is available to anyone who is unable to go out unaccompanied and:
- receives Income Support
- receives Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance
- Tax credit and and named NHS tax credit exemption certificate, or named on a valid HC2 certficate
- Suffering from diabetes or glaucoma (or considered to be at risk of)
- Registered blind or partially sighted
To find out about the services that Tynedale Eye Clinic offers contact them using the details given below, or visit their website.
If you do have difficulty finding an optician that will visit you at home, ask your GP for advice, or call NHS Direct on telephone number 0845 46 47.
Complaining about your optician
Anyone who has received goods or services from an optician that is registered with the General Optical Council can make a complaint. For information on their complaints process contact them using the details below or visit their website.
Wherever possible you should make your complaint directly to the optician who you received the goods or services from, as it may be possible to sort out the problem straightaway. However, if the matter can't be resolved, or if you would prefer to talk to someone who is not directly involved, then you should write to the Optical Consumer Complaints Service using the details given below.
If you are unable to make the complaint yourself, you can ask someone else, such as a relative or friend, to make the complaint for you. To do this, the Optical Consumer Complaints Service will require your written authority before the complaint can be registered.
It is important that any complaint is made as soon as possible after the event.
You can get more information about how to complain from the Optical Consumer Complaints Service website.
Eye conditions
For information on specific eye conditions, please see our section on Visual impairments.
Tips for healthy eyes
For information on how to improve your eye health and to minimise your risk of developing common eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, read The Eyecare Trust's Ten Steps to Healthy Eyes.
Good lighting is key to helping you to make the most of your eyesight. When you are aged 60 years old your eyes need three times as much light as they did when you were 20 years old.
Natural daylight is a really important source of light. You can increase this in your home by:
- keeping the windows clean;
- pulling your curtains back as far as possible; and
- keeping your net curtains clean, or removing them altogether.
For reading or close work, such as sewing, use a flexible table lamp that you can shine down onto your book or work.
Contact Information
Healthcall Optical and Hearing Services
Unit F2, Mayfair House, Redburn Road, Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 1NB.
Telephone : 0191 286 5220, Fax : 0191 286 4699.
Email : info@healthcalloptical.co.uk
North East Primary Care Services Agency
2nd Floor, Partnership House, Regents Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3HD.
Telephone : 0191 275 4200.
Email : mailto:customer.services@nepcsa.nhs.uk
Optical Consumer Complaints Service
P O Box 219, Petersfield, GU32 9BY.
Telephone : 0844 800 5071, Fax : 01730 265 058.
Email : postbox@opticalcomplaints.co.uk
The Outside Clinic
Telephone : 0500 295 245, Fax : 01793 534 848.
Email : info@outsideclinic.com
Tynedale Eye Clinic
Telephone : 0191 276 0242.
Email : info@tynedalehomevisits.com
Article last updated December 13, 2011 2:23 pm
