EYE EXAMINATIONS
At Paul Adler Optometrists, we ensure you enjoy the best possible level of vision and visual comfort while also looking out for early signs of eye-related health problems.
We will explain the findings of your eye examination and discuss any concerns you have about your eye health or family history. Where required we will also take the time to advise on treatment options and liaise with other health care providers if this is required.
YOUR EYE HEALTH
Regular eye examinations are important for people of all ages and might identify any eye problems such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, squints, or amblyopia ("lazy eye").
Your optician (optometrist) might also detect general health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Changes in vision often occur in middle age, and medical issues can often have an impact on your sight.
Eye examinations are available privately and under the NHS. For more information about eligibility for NHS sight tests, see our FAQ.
RETINAL IMAGING
DIGITAL FUNDUS PHOTOGRAPHY
A fundus camera can take photographs of the back of the eye, which enables your optometrist to examine the optic nerve and the macula in greater detail. This can help us to detect and monitor diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal tears or detachments, and central retinal vein or artery occlusion. Other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure can be detected.
OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY (OCT) 4D SCANNING
Our optical coherence tomographer (OCT) uses safe lasers to take cross-section pictures of the inside of the eye so that our opticians can see each of the layers under the surface of your retina. This allows your optometrist to ensure that there are no early signs of developing eye conditions that might affect your vision. The OCT also allows sophisticated monitoring of known retinal conditions and is far more detailed than a retinal photograph. It is useful for early detection and monitoring of glaucoma and diseases of the retina including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic eye disease.
IS IT TIME FOR YOUR NEXT EYE EXAMINATION?
NHS EYE EXAMINATIONS
NHS funded sight tests are available for certain groups of people once every two years. Click here for more details on which groups qualify for NHS funding. However, in some circumstances, more frequent NHS sight tests are allowed at request of their optometrist or doctor. For example, you may be eligible for more frequent eye tests if you:
- Are a child and 16yrs old and wear glasses
- Have diabetes
- Are aged 40 or over and have a family history of glaucoma
- Are aged 70 or over.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PRIVATE & NHS EYE EXAMINATIONS
A sight test includes an eye examination and is a vital health check for your eyes that can pick up early signs of eye conditions before you're aware of any symptoms – many of which can be treated if found early enough.
Your eye examination will check for signs that might indicate:
- Diabetes
- Macular degeneration
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts.
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Brain tumours
- Giant cell arteritis
- High cholesterol
- Retinal tears or retinal detachments
- Eye muscle misalignments
- Ocular signs of rheumatoid arthritis
- Many others
Good vision is important at all stages of life, but there are few settings in which most of us rely more heavily on our eyes than while we're in the classroom. Children will often not notice that their sight isn't as good as their peers or will simply find strategies to get around any problems that they're having (such as copying from a friend's notebook rather than directly off the whiteboard). Regular eye examinations will ensure that any problems are picked up early so that children see as well as possible and achieve their full potential.
Regular sight tests and eye examinations are also particularly crucial for the early detection of developmental problems that cause reduced vision. These generally become harder to treat the longer they remain undiagnosed. Older children can develop squints and children's sight can change as they grow.
You qualify for a free NHS-funded sight test if:
- You're aged under 16
- You're 16, 17 or 18 and are in full-time education
- You're aged 60 or over
- You're registered as partially sighted (sight impaired) or blind (severely sight impaired)
- You've been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
- You're 40 or over and your mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter has been diagnosed with glaucoma
- You've been advised by an ophthalmologist (a specialist eye doctor) that you're at risk of glaucoma
- You're a prisoner on leave from prison
- You're eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher – your optometrist can advise you about your entitlement
You're also entitled to a free NHS sight test if you:
- Receive Income Support
- Receive Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (not contribution-based)
- Receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Receive Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Receive Universal Credit and meet the criteria on earnings limit
- Are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
- Are named on a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)
- People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help.
People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help.
When you come for your sight test, tell our receptionist that you're entitled to an NHS-funded sight test. They will ask you to sign an electronic form.
You may be asked to show proof that you're entitled to a free NHS sight test. For more information, see the NHS leaflet, Help with health costs.
If you don't qualify for a free NHS sight test, you will have to pay for a private sight test.
Please call us and we will be happy to advise you.