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AIBU?

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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:
TimeForLunch · 02/04/2021 08:07

You shouldn't be wearing a mask whilst having your eyes tested. The optician should but you haven't said he/she wasn't. I think you will feel better once you have started going out and about a bit more.

Moondust001 · 02/04/2021 08:10

I recently had an eye test, and have them annually. I cannot recall any optician ever getting that close to me in decades. There is no need and all necessary tests have been conducted on machines for as far back as I can recall. That said, yes, I did not have a mask on for the tests. It would have been pointless doing the tests if I had one on as the lenses steam up.

AdventureIsWaiting · 02/04/2021 08:14

Had my eyesight checked a few months ago. We both wore masks as much as possible and both held our breath (as much as possible) when had to take masks off. Obvious sanitiser everywhere and cleaning between customers. So yes, what you experienced doesn't sound good enough.

relaxingforme · 02/04/2021 08:16

Not to close
When the eye test is about your eye health they look very close
It is a eye test
They look and I can can breathing and it feels intense in the dark while they look into your pupil-
Christ how do ppl cope with smears I mean really
As for the marks it was your choice to remove it instead of lowering it.

Beebopawhop · 02/04/2021 08:20

There are generally no windows or doors open when we conduct a sight test. Good for him for doing a thorough eye test if he didn't look at your retina he wouldn't have been doing his job. Not sure why you didn't wear a mask for that bit though.

Goatinthegarden · 02/04/2021 08:34

I had two contact lens appointments with Boots last Autumn. Nothing struck me as odd or unsafe. I’m pretty certain we had masks on the entire time. He definitely got close to me as he was looking in my eyes (not sure there’s any way to avoid that). I remember being asked to fill out a customer service survey and I actually bothered logging on to do it because the service had been exceptional.

Pricklypear12 · 02/04/2021 08:43

There are various ways to look into the back of the eye. Some require getting very close (I can assure you we do not do this for fun and neither do we enjoy it but we do it to have a thorough look at your retina!) And other methods include a piece of equipment called a slit lamp on a desk between you and the optometrist. There are various reasons why one method may be used over the other (logistics, pupil size, available equipment etc) and why one may suit a particular patient more than the other.

Noses generally shouldn't touch as that would be a very odd angle eg I would use my right eye to look into a patient's right eye so noses shouldn't be aligned. Foreheads may touch but generally not. We have to turn the lights off so we can get a clear view of a very small and intricate and IMPORTANT part of the eye.

MrsWhites · 02/04/2021 08:48

I went to boots opticians about 2 weeks ago OP, this definitely wasn’t my experience so I would definitely give some feedback to boots if you feel they didn’t follow the guidelines.

In my case I wore a mask throughout as did the optician, she didn’t always maintain 2m distance as that’s pretty impossible but she was wearing a mask and visor for the chatting part of the appointment and the part where they checked my prescription. During the actual eye exam she took off the visor but kept the mask on, as did I and the machine had a plastic screen fitted so that was between our faces at all times. Felt very safe.

I was allowed to lower my mask briefly whilst trying on glasses to check they suited my face, staff where always more than 2m away and were wearing masks. Any glasses I tried on where put in a tray and sterilised before going back on display.

Laggartha · 02/04/2021 08:48

@relaxingforme

Not to close When the eye test is about your eye health they look very close It is a eye test They look and I can can breathing and it feels intense in the dark while they look into your pupil- Christ how do ppl cope with smears I mean really As for the marks it was your choice to remove it instead of lowering it.
We cope with smears because they've always been done in a professional, safe and predictable manner. We've never had a smear conducted in an unexpectedly creepy manner without any explanation of what was about to happen.

Also - Christ. You have a weird way of writing.

Conditionconditioncondition · 02/04/2021 08:49

What a bizarre thread

Did you expect him to check your eyes from 2m away? Surely not?

The mask has to be removed to prevent the equipment from steaming up.

Hankunamatata · 02/04/2021 09:00

Weird. Specsavers - all the staff had masks and visors and gloves. I kept mask on whole time as did all the staff

FireflyRainbow · 02/04/2021 09:04

I had to keep my mask on during my eye test but they said I could take it down a bit while picking new frames, so I could see how they looked on my face.

Ohnomoreno · 02/04/2021 09:07

He's probably vaccinated and the masks make fuck all difference in such close proximity anyway. Just a psychological crutch.

L0bstersLass · 02/04/2021 09:14

@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.
This mirrors my experience last month. I took my mask off very briefly to see what the new frames would look like on my face, at this point the lady helping me stepped away. It felt safe throughout.
KindChick · 02/04/2021 09:16

I booked an appointment yesterday to get my eyes tested. They took time over the phone to explain everything from having to ring the doorbell when I arrived, to the optician being in full PPE to how I would select my glasses. That was in advance of me going to the appointment next week. From my last eye test yes the optician had to get up really close to examine eye ball health but this time round will be wearing a mask. Definitely something not right with your experience.

ColourfulElmerElephant · 02/04/2021 09:20

@Ohnomoreno

He's probably vaccinated and the masks make fuck all difference in such close proximity anyway. Just a psychological crutch.
This.
Juanbablo · 02/04/2021 09:22

My son had an opticians appointment a few weeks ago and both he and the optometrist kept their masks on the whole time.

Mrscmay17 · 02/04/2021 09:23

I work in an opticians and while it is completely normal for the optician to need to get close to check the health of the eye, I definitely don't think you should have been asked to remove your mask !

Original poster
Conuregreen · 02/04/2021 10:48

@Mylovelyhorsee no I really dont 😂 as someone that has experienced a "professional" who was a hair dresser inappropriately try to kiss and touch me I am hyper aware that these people doing their job are only just people at the end of the day. It was an uncomfortable close proximity. I dont walk around anxiety ridden usually

OP posts:
sunflowersandbuttercups · 02/04/2021 11:42

@Ohnomoreno

He's probably vaccinated and the masks make fuck all difference in such close proximity anyway. Just a psychological crutch.
Yep, this too.

If someone is so close that you can feel their breath on your face, what difference do you think a cloth mask will actually make?

britnay · 02/04/2021 12:34

Him not wearing PPE during the examination is absolutely against company policy. You need to complain to head office.

steff13 · 02/04/2021 12:37

Christ how do ppl cope with smears I mean really

Personally, I find someone being right in my face much more invasive.

At my most recent exam (in January) the doctor didn't dilate my eyes because of covid. They did something called Optomap (I think) instead. I don't know why this was preferable to dilation due to covid though.

FrankButchersDickieBow · 02/04/2021 12:53

with his nose pressed up against mine

So his nose and your nose were touching? Or are you exaggerating?

Mylovelyhorsee · 02/04/2021 13:05

@Conuregreen

You say you barely leave your house. Unless that is an exaggeration that isn’t normal.

Glitterblue · 02/04/2021 13:10

I had an eye test last year just towards the end of the first lockdown, and the optician wore a mask AND a visor. He had to come close at times but I felt very safe the whole time. I was not at any point asked to remove my mask.

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