Non boaty - Eye sight test.

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tarik

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It is years since I had a proper eye sight test. Have been making do with the Tesco £7.00 specials.

I have decided to get a test done, but do not want to go to an optician who plants a device onto my head and keeps hurriedly putting numerous lens in and out asking 'is that any better' I get confused easily !

Last night in the club a chap told me of an eye sight machine ( when he was in Germany) which the optician put to his eyes similar to a pair of binoculars and merely wound a focusing knob until the letter board was crystal clear.

Does anybody know of a similar machine in the UK and what is it called - so that I can ask if available when making an appointment?

As always many thanks for all replies.
 
Assuming you want glasses for sailing purposes and are therefore in the right forum :)

The large high street opticians use such machines to get an approximate prescription. Fine adjustment is then made by a qualified optician using a trial frame and lenses. Just because German opticians use a machine doesn't mean the prescription is better - it's not. Vision is subjective and small improvements are made by the optician. Fine adjustment for astigmatism can easily move you up a line on the testing chart.

The optician will, of course, also examine your eyes with some care to look out for eye disease - such as glaucoma, cataract, effects of diabetes etc etc.

If your only requirement is for reading glasses and you have normal distance vision then £7 is too much - what's wrong with your local £1 shop?
 
I recently had a sight test. I started with a machine as you describe then saw an optician. The eye examination is not just to sort out your prescription but, also to check the eye for other more serious things.

Do get a proper eye examination it just might save you from going blind!

Still can't get on with the varifocals :mad:
 
tarik said:
It is years since I had a proper eye sight test. Have been making do with the Tesco £7.00 specials.

I have decided to get a test done, but do not want to go to an optician who plants a device onto my head and keeps hurriedly putting numerous lens in and out asking 'is that any better' I get confused easily !

Last night in the club a chap told me of an eye sight machine ( when he was in Germany) which the optician put to his eyes similar to a pair of binoculars and merely wound a focusing knob until the letter board was crystal clear.

Does anybody know of a similar machine in the UK and what is it called - so that I can ask if available when making an appointment?

As always many thanks for all replies.
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I must admit my free TESCO eye test is one of the most comprehensive I have had.
 
The days of an optician putting lenses into a frame in front of your eyes has, for the most psrt, gone. What you get now is a device which you look through whilst the optician changes the shape of the lenses you're looking through. He will still ask the questions is this better than that because he's looking to refine the focus of your vision and can only do so in small steps so needs to ask you which is best.

I also get irritated with the speed at which opticians would like to work in comparision to the speed you'd like to go at. The only thing to do is to be polite and tell them to slow down a bit as you need time to make your mind up as to which is better, especailly when its down to the fine tune stage. Only costs £15 for a test IIRC - good value when you make them work at your pace and with competition these days, you can often find one of the chains giving free eye tests to get you in through the door.
 
maxi77 said:
Yes as an OAP in Scotland I get 1 free eye test every 12 months. Nothing to do with Tescos who get the money from the NHS
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I get free eye tests too in England

This thread reminds me its time I had them tested again.
 
Since I started my day skipper course I have realised that I need mine tested again, the symbols on those charts are dam small and I need a magnifying glass plus my glasses to read them!
 
Don't be such a wimp. Go and get a proper eye test done. It's not sore.
You only have one pair of eyes and you may as well look after them. They do a very comprehensive test and check for all sorts of potential problems. Go.
 
I've been putting off getting varifocals for about the last 5 years, making do with magnifying glasses. Got the new ones this week, best thing I ever did!!! Megga bucks, but worth every penny!!!
 
simonfraser said:
'Free eye tests' hmm, one born every min I recon ......
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Tesco's Barnstaple, 100% free eye test using all the latest automated equipment and then a proper fine tune by a qualified optometrist. Colour and Glaucoma tests, the whole lot.

Written copy of the prescription handed to me at completion.

But what would I know, I've only been wearing corrective lenses full time for 48 years.
 
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nigelmercier said:
I've had an annual free eye test since I was 40; my mother has Glaucoma.
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If you work with computers/VDU's you're also eligible for free eye tests - just ask your employer for the voucher and take it to your local optician...

If it turns out you need glasses to use the screen your employer may also be expected to pay something towards them... mine certainly paid..
 
tarik said:
It is years since I had a proper eye sight test. Have been making do with the Tesco £7.00 specials.

I have decided to get a test done, but do not want to go to an optician who plants a device onto my head and keeps hurriedly putting numerous lens in and out asking 'is that any better' I get confused easily !

Last night in the club a chap told me of an eye sight machine ( when he was in Germany) which the optician put to his eyes similar to a pair of binoculars and merely wound a focusing knob until the letter board was crystal clear.

Does anybody know of a similar machine in the UK and what is it called - so that I can ask if available when making an appointment?

As always many thanks for all replies.
Click to expand...

I don't know what it is called, but it is a routine part of the eye examination at Boots, where I go. They do it as part of the pre-test routine. However, it is NOT a precise measurement, and they still have to do the usual test with changing lenses.

Basically, it can't cope with things like astigmatism (and we all have a slight amount of that), or any other non-standard sight defects.

'Fraid there's no real way round the frame on the face and changing lenses if you want a good eye-test. But take it easy; don't LET the optician hurry you. If you're not sure, say you're not sure - and get the optician to repeat the sequence. I've been having eye tests since I was in short trousers, and I still get confused at times - so TELL the optician you've got confused, and they will certainly repeat bits to ensure they get as good a result as possible.

An optician should also check the back of your eye on a regular basis.

FWIW, I've been with Boots Opticians for about the last 20 years, and they have always provided excellent service. However, I am on first-name terms with most of the opticians and the contact lens specialist! I am an "interesting case" optically, so they quite like having something a bit out of the ordinary to check out.
 
Fantasie 19 said:
If you work with computers/VDU's you're also eligible for free eye tests - just ask your employer for the voucher and take it to your local optician...

If it turns out you need glasses to use the screen your employer may also be expected to pay something towards them... mine certainly paid..
Click to expand...

any more info please?
 
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