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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think he was too close for comfort?

60 replies

Conuregreen · 02/04/2021 01:28

Maybe this is my fault as it's nearly been a decade since I had my eyes tested. I decided since I've started driving to check my prescription. I usually do not go anywhere and am trying to be as careful as possible ( just had baby, been told I was vulnerable) but since covid cases have been low recently I thought it was now or never to go. However they had no windows/doors open. A man was seeing the optician before me and had no mask on. The appointment went over by 20 minutes. When I finally got seen I was asked to remove my mask to do the tests, and then had the optician literally up to my eyeball breathing the same air as me. I wanted to run out of there. I was allowed to take my mask off to try frames. The whole situation screamed unsafe to me. Now I'm worried I should have cancelled the appointment. I read up on the boots website before going and they went on about all the safety measures they had in place but it definitely felt like a different story when I got there. Has anyone else been, was this also the case?

OP posts:
LostInABlizzard · 02/04/2021 01:31

Yes. A lot of places are just paying lip service to the precautions. I had an appointment with a hospital consultant last week and his mask was down around his chin the entire time!

Original poster
Conuregreen · 02/04/2021 01:37

@LostInABlizzard it's crazy to me that even professional healthcare works are doing this! They should be the first ones to know the importance and set an example for it. I remember when i went into labour and all the midwives around me had their masks under their chins!

OP posts:
user1473878824 · 02/04/2021 01:53

I absolutely see your concern, but where did you think the optician would be able to check your eyes from? Before the pandemic they didn’t get close to your face just because they liked it. I would assume opticians are taking regular tests like most people in similar lines of work.

Original poster
Conuregreen · 02/04/2021 01:55

@user1473878824 honestly it's been 8 years since I last had a test. I knew you had to put your face on the machine but I did not remember the optician literally looking into my eyeball with his nose pressed up against mine. He was so close I couldnt breath from the anxiety

OP posts:
Laggartha · 02/04/2021 02:13

This happened to me as a 13/14 year old. I was absolutely petrified, as in my body went rigid. It was almost pitch black but I remember his curly hair, his nasal hair, the sound of his breath... urgh. And that was without the fear of covid.

DramaAlpaca · 02/04/2021 02:34

I had an appointment with my optician recently. I kept my mask on at all times, including when choosing frames, and the optician was in PPE all the time too. Your experience sounds very unpleasant.

AmberItsACertainty · 02/04/2021 02:39

I had an eye test during covid. Both me and the optician kept our masks on. And the receptionist. It was winter so door closed and there wasn't any windows in the test room. My glasses don't fit brilliant due to being fitted whilst wearing a mask, wish I'd been able to take it off for that part. He wasn't up in my face particularly though. They do have to get quite close ordinarily though, for a few seconds here and there.

Midlifelady · 02/04/2021 02:46

I'd complain to the manager or whomever was in charge. My eye test was appointment only, time between each to wipe down equipment, everyone inside had masks on all the time, and you were not allowed to pick up the glasses, you asked to try one and then afterwards they were put aside to be cleaned before replacing on the shelf.
The optician has to be very close to you to do the exam, but you should both be wearing masks.

user1473878824 · 02/04/2021 03:23

Agree you should have both been wearing masks, it’s not the dentists!

BurningRed · 02/04/2021 06:13

Hi @Conuregreen it might be worth sending feedback to Boots.

I had an eye test before Christmas in Boots and all safety precautions were taken. Both wearing masks. I held my eye for the bit when you pull it down and look in different directions etc etc. This wasn’t the experience I had at all.

Some feedback needed - this sounds not right.

RampantIvy · 02/04/2021 06:20

It sounds like you need to complain.

As an aside you should get your eyes tested every two years, especially if you drive.

steff13 · 02/04/2021 06:25

@DramaAlpaca

I had an appointment with my optician recently. I kept my mask on at all times, including when choosing frames, and the optician was in PPE all the time too. Your experience sounds very unpleasant.
Yeah, same. They gave me a little plastic bin, and I had to put every frame I tried on in it so they could be sanitized.
Cobb121 · 02/04/2021 07:17

I had my
Eye test at boots a few weeks ago. Myself & the optician both wore masks throughout.

Lulu1919 · 02/04/2021 07:27

I had to keep my mask on during a very recent appointment.
The optician wore a mask and a face shield at all times.
You could only enter the shop with an appointment

buckingmad · 02/04/2021 07:28

I had my mask on at boots but had to have my nose out because otherwise my breath was fogging up the glass. I’m not sure how he could check your eyes without getting close to you.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 02/04/2021 07:33

You should both have been in masks but getting up close is part of having your eyes tested - they can't do it properly otherwise, and it's their job to check your overall eye health as well as your prescription.

Bexily · 02/04/2021 07:35

Definitely complain. My DS has had a couple of eye tests recently, one at tge opticians and one at the hospital. Both times he and the optician wore masks for all of his tests.

Pricklypear12 · 02/04/2021 07:54

As an optometrist I can tell you that it's normal for optometrists to get very close to their patients when looking at the health of the backs of the eyes. We do not do it for fun. Not sure why you were asked to remove your mask.

Summertime21 · 02/04/2021 07:54

Both me and the optician wore masks, I slightly lowered mine to try frames just covering mouth for the couple minutes that took

Pricklypear12 · 02/04/2021 07:56

Test rooms never have windows as we need to be able to make the room pitch black so we do not receive glare when using bright lights to view the eye. Doors are kept shut for that reason and also for patient privacy and confidentiality.

Mylovelyhorsee · 02/04/2021 07:57

I think you need to seek help for your health anxiety.

RealisticSketch · 02/04/2021 07:58

Recently had opticians appointment and they wore mask throughout and I was asked to take it off for the lens bit as otherwise they steam up. Everything wiped down and set aside between patients. Nothing like your experience!

Againstmachine · 02/04/2021 08:02

I had Specsavers masks throughout, , only had to lower mask ever so slightly as was dreaming up the machine.

picklemewalnuts · 02/04/2021 08:02

@Pricklypear12

As an optometrist I can tell you that it's normal for optometrists to get very close to their patients when looking at the health of the backs of the eyes. We do not do it for fun. Not sure why you were asked to remove your mask.
Can I ask is it normal for faces to touch? The OP says his nose was touching hers, @Laggartha says similar.

I had an experience (1 in 40 years of eye tests) where I was very uncomfortable- it was like dancing cheek to cheek, his face pressed against mine and his breath...

ceeveebee · 02/04/2021 08:02

I had an eye test at boots about a month ago and we both had our masks on all the time

Also the optician told me she had been vaccinated and tests herself twice a week.