Opticians and eye tests

[LoadsaBlusher]

Does anybody have any insider information on when opticians will reopen ?

One of my DC has been struggling to see TV and walking right up close and complaining of not being able to see...

Age 7 so old enough to explain and tell me what’s wrong

NHS England have not been very quick/helpful to be honest. We're all hanging fire until told otherwise - only open for emergencies.

So no dates given at all then ?

DCs eyes will be getting so strained

No, mine called me to do a lens check over the phone which I thought was daft as she can’t see the health of my eyes. I said I need an eye test and she said they are looking into opening but as they need to get up close and personal it’s a major challenge to work out how to do it.

My boyfriend is a contact lense optician and has not been given a date when the shop will reopen. Has been told that he could just get given 24 hour notice.

I think a lot will be done via video call to try and reduce the number of people coming in. He has been told any appointments such as eye tests and contact lense checks will be done in full PPE.

Having asked around, some stores are potentially aiming for 4th July unless told otherwise.
It's a difficult one though as impossible to socially distance

It will be down to NHS England when they start up as well as General Optical Council. It will not be down to individual choice. I am furloughed and would love to be working, but the optometrist has to be so up close for at least 15 to 20 mins. It will be a brave call when it comes

Yes I completely understand the health aspects

It’s a tough one but surely serious eye conditions could be getting missed

Not just eye tests and eye strains but more serious complications

Opticians should be on the priority list for Covid testing and be issued with great PPE
Although I’m thinking of those things you rest your chin on - the optician is up very close with lights etc, could they even do their jobs wearing a visor ? Probably not so it’s like catch 22

But it’s an important medical service ... We can’t just say oh no more eye provision ever

So so tricky isn’t it

In Ireland, opticians are open again, for urgent cases. This includes children. I was also able to have my eyes checked as my glasses prescription was definitely out of date & I need some glasses for working on a laptop.

It's strange they are not open yet in UK, even tho restrictions less there, than here.

I'm not sure of the system in UK tho? Is it NHS-linked? In Ireland, opticians are private and only some people (medical card holders) won't have to pay.

You can't social distance no, but they did wear protective clothes. Not full PPE tho & I'd be amazed if that's the case in UK! They wore face masks, including protective face shield for the optician & plastic aprons & gloves (that's not full PPE!)

OP, are you sure your optician won't see you? I called mine this morning due to eye pain over the last 4 days. I've had a telephone triage appt this afternoon and he has decided that I should be seen so has booked me a face to face appointment tomorrow morning. He was very clear that there is some risk with being seen as social distance can not be maintained and that ppe will be worn/provided but that they are still willing to see urgent/emergency cases...

Asda opticians are open for urgent vision concerns, give them a call and see what they say.

I'm in Wales, my eyetest is well overdue and I know I need my lens prescription updated.
I got a text from the opticians saying they were aware and they would text when they could see me. Not holding my breath

OP have they never had an eye test before? Should really be having an annual eye test.

They are still open for 'essential' as well as emergency eye care. This covers all the sight threatening/painful categories of eye health as well as breaking your glasses and not being able to see.
No one who needs to be seen will not be seen by an optometrist wearing full PPE, but obviously telephone triage at the moment is to reduce the number of non essential visits.

You should ring your local optician .
There are the vision charts like the normal ones that the optician can get you to print at home to check at 3m what your dd is seeing. This will give the optometrist an idea of how her vision actually is and see if she needs to be seen soon.

Obviously the issue is you just can't social distance as an optometrist and 20 minutes at close distance (quite a lot of it within half a metre) in a small room with several different people a day carries a very high risk of transmission.

July looks like a possibility for normal non essential appointments, but depending on the daily rates it may be that similar to medical appointments where you might be asked to wear a mask for the 20 minutes (excluding groups such as young children) and other basic hygiene precautions .

Opticians are some of the riskiest occupations for the fact they can't social distance and have multiple contacts with prolonged contact each day. They are working though and people who need to be are being seen.

Yes DC Has had an eye test previously which was fine but is now complaining of not being able to see TV

I wouldnt class it as an emergency , I guess it’s just one of many frustrating situations that we now find ourselves in , being able to just pop out for anything now is tough

The kids were all due their 6 month dental checks in March and that has obviously been and gone , goodness knows when they will next get seen ( last check up was October 2019 )

The chart is https://lookafteryoureyes.org/eye-examinations/covid-19-frequently-asked-questions/ here]
video instructions if you want to check is vision is down (bottom line is 20/20 or 6/6 as we say in the UK).

[ https://lookafteryoureyes.org/eye-examinations/covid-19-frequently-asked-questions/ ]

Sorry for the rubbish linking (second one does work though hopefully).

Had to ring the local optician at the end of last week for a family member - they are working towards opening on 4 July for routine eyetests but will carry out genuine emergency testing and send glasses away for repair by appointment.

Yes,not heard anything about opticians as yet. I am very overdue for needing a new eye test. I should have gone a year ago. My specs are a bit wonky,and I am struggling a bit with reading and doing a bit of sewing etc. I wear varifocals. But really looking forward to getting some swish new frames.

My ds had an eye test at Specsavers during the lockdown - it wasn't an emergency but they decided it was necessary as his last test was a year ago so he needed a new prescription. Call them and ask.

Thanks

Opticians are still open as are eye casualty departments at hospital eye clinics for adult and child eye health emergencies and concerns
Please don't wait if you have any worrying visual symptoms

Specsavers are open for emergencies (including appointments where they think it's necessary). I was having headaches and had ruled everything else out so called and had an appointment within a couple of days. My prescription had REALLY changed and I'm now the proud (?) wearer of old lady glasses varifocals.