Any opticians that don't use eye drops for test?

[Backinthetallgrass]

Just wondering if there's any chain of opticians that just test kids eyes without using the eye drop things?

Wanting to take my son to his first test but worried the drops will make it a horrible experience.

[brownelephant]

my dc never got the drops.
normal independent high street optician.

[CotswoldStrife]

What drops? The only time my DD has had drops is at the hospital when they wanted to check something specific and we knew about it beforehand.

[Backinthetallgrass]

Thanks for responses.

I booked an appointment online with a franchise and they phoned to say the 15 min slot i had was too short for a child. They said he needs an hour because they put drops in to dilate eyes to do test. I said I didn't want that but they said most opticians do that these days.

I will maybe see if I can find an independent one unless someone knows a franchise who don't do it like that?

[Doofenschmirtz]

Mine have never had drops for an eye test.

They had their latest test yesterday. There was a machine to look into to look at balloons(!) and another one that too photos of their eyes, but the rest was the usual looking at letters/numbers on a screen. (Vision Express, if that helps any).

[Doofenschmirtz]

took photos

[NewtScamandersNaughtyNiffler]

Neither me nor DC have ever had drops. We use specsavers

[WobblyLondoner]

I've taken my son (now 11) regularly over the years and he's never had drops. Try another optician?

[WobblyLondoner]

Ps we go to Boots (was Specsavers pre-merger). V happy with the service there.

[Bixx]

For a routine eye test? I have never heard of an optician using drops for a routine eye test. DD1 has had drops once but that was because she had reported some visual disturbances and the optician wanted to get a really good look at the back of her eye. Specsavers is where I took my DCs for their last test and they didn’t.

[JennyOnAPlate]

My dc have been having annual eye tests for years (now ages 10 and 8) at spec savers and have never had drops.

[Doofenschmirtz]

And the tests have never taken an hour. Even the appointment for my DC with glasses only took about ten minutes, and that was with all the "Is is clearer with the first lens or the second lens?" questions.

For the DC with good eyesight, it was even quicker.

[Backinthetallgrass]

Thanks for all responses.

Got a few to try now. I did think it was weird when they said that because ive got an older son who got tested a few years ago but eyes were fine. No drops at that appointment and it was same optician although owned by a different franchise at the time.

We have like 4 big name opticians in our town. I will ask around!

[prettymess]

Only had it at an independent opticians as they didn’t have the “puffy machine”. I fainted when she put the drops in

[0utForAWalkBitch]

I took my daughter recently and the optician explained that as she was a school referral she had to use the drops - she tested them normally first and said she’d never normally use the drops but in this case she had to. I guess I could ha e refused them but my daughter wasn’t that bothered.

[KittTheCar]

Mine has had drops at the clinic as she had a squint, and they needed to do it to do ? something.

The other has no eye issues and goes to normal optician, no drops.

The drops sting like a sod, I felt so much for DD1 when she had to have them, like I say this was at the eye clinic though so different ball game.

[Backinthetallgrass]

Thats my worry kittthecar. My sons 5... and ive heard the drops can sting.

Maybe they assume its a school referral because of his age. Who knows?

[otto2011]

It's best practise to use drops on child's 1st eye test especially if they have ANY worrying symptoms whatsoever.
It will enable them to examine retina properly and exclude prescription which is hidden due to flexibility of childrens' eye muscles. You can of course opt out but the optometrist can refuse to test your child as not a full and comprehensive eye test without if preschooler or even early primary school age.
Eye test results as you can imagine are very unreliable if we rely on a 4/5 yr olds answers/cooperation. The drops will ensure there is no error margin.
If you have any concerns about their vision I strongly advise having the drops.

[SprogletsMum]

My 3 have all had the drops on their first eye test. Dd was only 3 when she had them and was totally fine with them.

[dementedpixie]

My dc's got the drops up to age 7/8ish as you get a more accurate prescription and the optician doesn't have to rely on what they say they can see. At age 5 I'd accept drops. They only sting for a second

[KittTheCar]

DD1 obviously found the drops very unpleasant, she's always been stoic and we didn't make a fuss and prompt her into being in discomfort IYSWIM.

Like many things it probably varies between people. We all have quite sensitive skin - I'm a bit allergic to quite a few "anti allergic" skin creams and they make my eyes red and stingy, also got my eyelashes dyed a few times and that stung like an absolute fucker! So, I expect it varies.

OP that's about 1 in 6 that said it was proper uncomfortable, so with those odds you'll probably be OK!

[underneaththeash]

I don't always use the drops; it depends on the age of the child, history and symptoms, parents history and the result I get with the light without the drops, their muscle balance status and their uncorrected vision.

For many children, its just not possible to ascertain their prescription (if any), if you don't put them in. DD for example, at age 4, her pre-drop prescription was around +2.50, but her actual prescription is +4.50/+5.00.

[Tuliplove]

My son just had drops a few weeks ago. They said he needed it for accuracy as the results weren't clear enough. He had a hard time with it and on top of that they had to do it again because he moved. Since then, his eyes have never been the same. The blurriness took a long time to go and I believe some damage has been done. So far in my brief research I've come to understand that they use a preservative -hydrochloric acid. They claim to use this in order to change the pH level in the eye. I know HCl can cause irreversible damage. Some kids are more sensitive than others so in future I will most probably decline similar situations. The workers are doing their job and can be ignorant of chemical ingredients and their dangers. The ones responsible for the childs safety are in control of their life and in fact have a choice despite what the company's or retailers may strongly suggest.

[underneaththeash]

They can take a little time to wear off, especially if the 1% dosage is used, or the child has blue eyes.

But you've not understood at all what you've been reading - HCL (hydochloric acid) isn't used as a preservative, the drops are NOT preserved, they are supplied as single-use doses called minims. The HCL is an intrinsic part of the compound, not something added afterwards.
They are added to the drop to make the contents more acidic, so that they can penetrate the outer layers of the cornea, so that they can act on the cillary muscle and cause cycloplegia.
It's this acidity which makes them sting slightly.

Cyclopentalate has been used safely in children and babies since the 1970's.

If you are ever worried about a medical procedure just contact the practitioner afterwards.