Glaucoma eye tests NHS - over age 40

[Dreambe]

If you are aged 40+ and were advised to have eye tests (free) more regularly due to a family history of glaucoma how often do you have the tests?

I’ve been having them annually for the past 9 years (I was told the frequency needed) and now the optometrist said it will be every 18 months. It’s now been exactly a year but I feel that my eyes aren’t feeling right and I’d like them checked.

Call your optometrist and asked to be booked in sooner as your eyes aren’t feeling right. I’m guessing 18 months permitting you have no symptoms.

Roughly yearly, in practice a bit over because I never get round to booking one asap when Specsavers send the reminder.

I pay £10 for the retinal scan, that's all.

I've just found the NICE guidelines, it should be yearly

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/glaucoma/diagnosis/opportunistic-testing-for-glaucoma/

1 year is the minimum interval, but optometrists are told by the NHS they cannot recall all patients within an entitlement category (such as family history of glaucoma) at the minimum interval.
If there are clearly no signs of risk of glaucoma development, the optometrist would have to justify under NHS inspection the ongoing one year recall doesn't fall within a 'blanket' approach. There has to be a considered approach to recalls in all categories.

If things don't feel right then the optometrist can use a code to carry out an early NHS sight test, if you fall within the NHS guidance for this.
NHS tests are governed by the definition of an NHS 'sight test', so early tests need to be affecting sight.
Of course a private sight test can be paid for if not.
There are also other NHS covered avenues for medical eye issues under the optometrist minor eye conditions service as well.

Just to add even if you aren't due under routine NHS recall if your eyes 'don't feel right' that you should always get them retested.

I started glaucoma tests when I lived in the UK because a parent had it and continued when I went to Australia.
The system is very slightly different here as the testing is private. My tests have lengthened out from annual to 18-monthly to two years.

An interesting aspect is that the ophthalmologist detected a likely heart condition two years before any symptoms presented.

So keep up the appointments.

I usually go annually but this year it was 18 months later. I'd noticed changes a while ago but didn't get around to setting up an appointment. Anyway my script has changed but everything else was normal (also paid for the retina scan).