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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want to pay for DS Eye Test

86 replies

ineedsomeinspiration · 10/05/2019 14:18

DS (7) got his first glasses in September after reported his school work was jumping around the page. He'd never complained before and had been doing well at school. It turned out he needed a strongish prescription and to wear glasses all the time. Had a hospital referral to check prescription and for lazy eye. All good and told next check this September.

However this last week or so he's been complaining of his work jumping and describing what seems like double vision. I of coursed phoned the Opticians as presumed first point of call would be to get his eyes checked again rather than GP. I've made an appointment but been told as he's not due his NHS eye test till September if his prescription doesn't need changing then I'll have to pay £25.

NHS website seems to suggest you can have a free eye test earlier than scheduled if deemed clinically necessary. Surely a 7yo boy complaining of weird vision would deem an eye test clinically necessary? I'll pay it if I have to because I want to make sure he's OK but they'd be plenty of people who couldn't and may not take their child as result. Although I'm sure DS is fine surely these in some could be symptoms of something more serious than the wrong glasses?

Would you pay if asked or kick up a fuss?

OP posts:

BuildBuildings · 10/05/2019 14:24

How would you establish if it was clinaclly necessary to have an eye test without having one first or seeing his GP?

IAmTheChosenOne · 10/05/2019 14:26

I've never been charged when DCs broke glasses or has earlier than schedules appointments. Change your optician.

dementedpixie · 10/05/2019 14:27

I would have thought he would have had a follow up appointment sooner than 1 year if it was his very first pair of glasses. When my dd first got glasses we got seen more often than annually

Zebedee88 · 10/05/2019 14:27

Not really directly to do with your aibu post, however have you looked into Visual stress? With the words jumping about, finding it hard to focus. Is it just the words that do this or is the double vision with every thing he looks at?

Original poster

ineedsomeinspiration · 10/05/2019 14:28

BuildBuildings The lady on the phone said if his prescription doesn't need changing then they'll charge.
See my thinking is that even if it's not being caused by his glasses a GP would tell me to have his eyes tested before looking in to it further anyway.

OP posts:

Original poster

ineedsomeinspiration · 10/05/2019 14:30

IAmTheChosenOne they didn't charge when he broke his glasses. I went back to the one he went first time as they'll have his records and referral hospital notes and another wouldn't.
I'm thinking about going elsewhere but want to do what best for him.

OP posts:

JamieVardysHavingAParty · 10/05/2019 14:31

If his prescription has changed, then it will be deemed clinically necessary and you won't have to pay.

However, why on earth is a seven-year-old on his first pair of glasses on annual recalls already?

Original poster

ineedsomeinspiration · 10/05/2019 14:31

dementedpixie he was seen at the hospital in December so technically it will be 9 months.

OP posts:

Original poster

ineedsomeinspiration · 10/05/2019 14:33

Zebedee88 interesting. I'll ask him. He mentioned the clock looked like it had extra numbers/numbers in the wrong place. It's only happened at school.

OP posts:

Original poster

ineedsomeinspiration · 10/05/2019 14:36

JamieVardysHavingAParty but if prescription hasn't changed and something else is causing it then I will. Would your eyes change that much in 8 months?
It just seems daft that it wouldn't be deemed as clinically necessary to get this checked.
I don't know why he's on yearly check ups. The doctor at the hospital ummed and ahhhed about whether he needed to be seen in six months or a year.

OP posts:

ChoudeBruxelles · 10/05/2019 14:37

Go to a different opticians

mumwon · 10/05/2019 14:43

as choudebruxelles says - go to another optician - I have never paid for extra sight tests (v short sighted so don't pay) to check if everything ok if I had headache or whatever -

EmpressJewel · 10/05/2019 14:45

DS9 has a strong prescription (+8) and our opticians told us that anytime we had concerns, we should bring him him.

Jemima232 · 10/05/2019 14:46

OP - Yes, his eyes could change significantly in eight months as he's young and they haven't settled down yet.

Seriously, go to another optician's. The vast majority of the chain ones will not charge for this.

Fraxion · 10/05/2019 14:46

My parent's GP phone line gives a lot of info before you actually get to choose an option. Part of that is if you have eye problems see an optician. Unless it is something presenting physically eg stye then they can't do anything.

beachysandy81 · 10/05/2019 14:46

I have a feeling this is a new cut as that happened when I took my son. His prescription had changed though so I didn't get charged. Also, it used to be a year between tests. It all about the cuts.

Thingsthatgo · 10/05/2019 14:48

My ds had an extra check at the opticians. I was concerned that one of his eyes was turned in. It wasn’t, I was being paranoid.
The optician was lovely, and said that I should pay, but she fudged the paperwork so I didn’t have to.

ALadyofLetters · 10/05/2019 14:50

I was told the same by boots. DD felt her eyes had got worse but when I asked they said if it hadn’t changed it’d be £25. It was only a few months off so we waited and her prescription had got worse. She is on yearly recalls and I remember it being 6 monthly when I was her age. Is a yearly recall poor form?

TatianaLarina · 10/05/2019 14:51

I’d go to the GP first personally, and then the optician.

DerelictWreck · 10/05/2019 14:51

Use Boots opticians and have since a child. Never paid, never hassled and seen whenever I need to. Suggest you change!

TatianaLarina · 10/05/2019 14:51

My parent's GP phone line gives a lot of info before you actually get to choose an option. Part of that is if you have eye problems see an optician

Depends on the eye problem. If you have migraines or MS for example you need a doctor not an optician.

octonoughtcake3 · 10/05/2019 14:52

It could be a symptom of dyslexia. There is a special name for it which I can’t remember (just woken up from nap) and coloured glasses/over lays can sometimes help. Maybe ask on the SEN board as a specialist eye test can pick it up.

Lifeandbeans · 10/05/2019 14:52

My DC has had early checks because of visual problems and not been charged.

In regards to the words jumping on the page have a look at Irlens
This is a very common sign.
I think it's also linked to Dyslexia.

RoseDog · 10/05/2019 14:53

Ask the GP to referred to the childrens eye clinic and read up on Irlen syndrome.

AugustRose · 10/05/2019 14:54

I'm surprised that the optician would charge you but your first port of call should be the hospital team. I am also surprised his next hospital appointment is 9 months with his first glasses, we always had a follow up after 3 months to make sure the glasses/prescription were working and correct.

I would call the hospital first but the optician should not be charging you, childrens eyes can change quickly.

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