Anyone managed to get an eye test in lockdown, without going to the optician?

[LorBright]

Asking for my MIL who is shielding, she needs to get an eye test but obviously doesn't want to go into an optician. Has anyone managed to get an eye test online or over the phone with their optician somehow?

I dont see how they would be able to do an eye test over the phone to be honest, but it's worth phoning them to find out.

Surely that’s like getting a tooth out over the phone?

whats this now?
i cant see this is a thing.

Specsavers have a home visiting service but I’m not sure if the cost.

Surely the only part of eye testing that could be done over the phone is then asking questions about how you feel your vision is, any headaches etc?

They have to be able to examine your eyes and your sight!

My dad used to have Specsavers come out to him at home

Does you MIL drive? Apparently it’s a good way to test.

My Dad had a home visit from Spec Savers.

Do you mean being able to book the appointment over the phone? Yes I booked over the phone but you obviously have to go into the optician to have the test! When I went in, there was no one else in the branch at all except the optician, I was masked up and optician was wearing both a mask and shield, everything was sterilised in between.

I've been to the opticians and it felt quite safe (within reason). Big gaps between appointments. Temp check. Sanitise. Everything wiped down. Masks and visors.
As opticians they are very aware of their own vulnerability and that of their patients.

Im not sure you can effectively complete an eye test online - and definitely not things like the glaucoma/eye pressure tests.

The social distancing measures at Asda Opticians was very thorough and reassuring.

Or do you mean like going for a long drive to make sure you can see?

@DianaT1969

The social distancing measures at Asda Opticians was very thorough and reassuring.

Would you mind sharing how they did it? I’ve been putting of going as it’s usually close contact

I went last week for a lens check. It felt far less risky than going to a cafe or the supermarket! (But I am not vulnerable.)

Had a call the day before to go through a questionnaire re Covid
Optician was locked, let in by receptionist - no-one else in other than the optician (small independent though)
All furniture was covered in disposable polythene covers
Perspex screen between me and the optician when she looked in my eyes
All equipment sterilised after use - I had hand held “glasses” things with different lenses rather than the usual big heavy headset. The “book” that’s used to test close vision is sterilised with a solution between patients which takes an hour to work (I asked out of nosiness, not because I was worried!)
Hand sanitiser on entry and before leaving

I need a slight prescription change, and trial lenses were posted to me direct from the supplier rather than the optician bring them out of stock.

My neighbour who was in the ECV group went to Specsavers a few weeks back to get new glasses and said it was fine.

I went to the opticians a few weeks ago, lots of measures in place, I felt very safe.

For DM we use Specsavers domiciliary service, never had any issues and other opticians offer the service

Hi there. I'm an optician myself. Unfortunately we have to see her eyes to test them therefore she would have to come in. However full PPE is worn in all opticians currently and they are fully covid secure. You can ring ahead and ask for their covid policy if you'd like.

Alternatively specsavers do home visits and so do a company called the outside clinic if you google them. However they usually only come out to you if you are considered house bound but may make an exception.

Hope that helps!

I went to Specsavers a couple of months ago. I had been shielding, so I have been very careful.

I went at 9am, so the earliest possible appointment, on a Monday. That meant the premises had been cleaned since the last customers, and had effectively been vacant as long as possible.

It was almost empty, the staff were wearing PPE, and it felt very safe.

Why is she shielding? Has that been reintroduced? I'm in Scotland so rules are different but up here nobody is shielding, we have just been told to follow the same guidance as everyone else.

I don't see any reason not to go for an eye test really, the PPE and cleaning makes it very very safe.

Specsavers are doing all the screening questions over the phone, to minimise the time in store, but the eye test itself needs to be done face to face. They do have an at home service too, although not sure if that’s currently running.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. She's still shielding because she's very anxious, more her own choice than the rules now.

I was asking because a friend of a friend said their optician had told them to download an app and then asked them a series of questions over the phone. I just wondered if this might be something that would work for my MIL, but no idea how to go about finding it or even if it exists.

That's hilarious. OP are you aware of what an eye test involves?

Specsavers and the dentists are the cleanest places I have been since all this started!

But I'd book the mon am appt as people say if she's worried and/or find a single practitioner opticians where she'll be the only customer at any one time