Does anyone know if opticians are doing routine eye tests?

[Hotchocolateandcake]

Or is it emergencies only?

Yes they are. I had one last week.

They were when I went last year. Why wouldn't they?

I have had 2 routine eye tests since March 2020. DD has also had one. I hadn't been aware they had been affected.

Yes. I'm a contact lens wearer and have yearly check ups.

They've been operating pretty normally throughout. You've always been able to make appointments for eye care.

It's ok my local opticians has told me that they are only doing emergency appointments if for example your glasses were broken.

I questioned whether it was just that branch and they said that it's guidance from NHS England and is across the board. They said any optician willing to see a non glasses wearer for a routine appointment is breaking the rules.

I thought this seemed very odd.

Well Specsavers have been harassing me to the point that I will be going elsewhere in future so pretty sure they are

Ours has never taken the "piss off unless your eyeball's hanging out" message off the answerphone but yes, they're still seeing people routinely, and for glasses adjustments, and for contact lens fittings (I went that route in the desperate hope that no steamed up specs might mean I could tolerate a mask... it didn't work but I hope showed commitment to trying).

I had one in the summer at Specsavers.

@Hotchocolateandcake

It's ok my local opticians has told me that they are only doing emergency appointments if for example your glasses were broken.

I questioned whether it was just that branch and they said that it's guidance from NHS England and is across the board. They said any optician willing to see a non glasses wearer for a routine appointment is breaking the rules.

I thought this seemed very odd.

Their either confused or lying!

I've had a couple of appointments & my first glasses (March 2020) & a check up & new glasses this year.

I used spec savers & they were very good in the height of the pandemic. I was (am). EVV & very nervous of going, but they were great,

Try elsewhere!

I work in an opticians. The NHS did suspend routine sight tests at the start but we have been able to see people as emergencies all the way through. The NHS allowed us to claim funding for performing sight tests again since Summer 2020.
Initially we were asking people who were not struggling with their vision to delay a bit while we sorted out the ones who needed changes in their prescriptions.
I would say since March 2021 we have booked anyone who wants a sight test.
Unless you are at a small independent optician with only one person testing and a huge backlog I'm surprised you have been unable to book a sight test.

Don't just take their word for it, try another opticians.

Mine was only doing emergencies during the lockdowns. Since then they have been doing everything. All of my family have had routine appointments.

My son had an eye test at spec savers 2 weeks ago, never had glasses before.

They definitely are. We go to 3 different opticians based on our needs. Think we're at DDs opticians every other week!

Both my DS and I keep getting reminders to get check up from Vision Express, so they are definitely open and doing appointments.

I recently had an eye test at my local independent opticians and picked new glasses. You had to wear a mask for the eye test and picking the specs and they arranged a time for me to pick up my new glasses.

My local vision express has been normal for well over a year. I've had contact lens check ups and eye tests. DD had her check up at the start of summer.

@Hotchocolateandcake

It's ok my local opticians has told me that they are only doing emergency appointments if for example your glasses were broken.

I questioned whether it was just that branch and they said that it's guidance from NHS England and is across the board. They said any optician willing to see a non glasses wearer for a routine appointment is breaking the rules.

I thought this seemed very odd.

Surely that can't be right. Health conditions including very aggressive cancers can be picked up from routine eye tests. They can't possibly be against the rules

Definitely. I had an eyetest at Specsavers today at 6pm. It was very busy.

I had an eye test at my local Specsavers about a week ago. Completely routine.

I’ve had two eye tests since Covid started - one last year and one this year - and a contact lens check. My husband has had one eye test and a contact lens check.

Your optician might not be seeing people, as I guess is their right, but it’s certainly not across the board.

Spec savers have been open throughout haven't they? I got new glasses a few months ago. DH has been a few times in the last year because he keeps losing his glasses

@ShakespearesSisters

I work in an opticians. The NHS did suspend routine sight tests at the start but we have been able to see people as emergencies all the way through. The NHS allowed us to claim funding for performing sight tests again since Summer 2020. Initially we were asking people who were not struggling with their vision to delay a bit while we sorted out the ones who needed changes in their prescriptions. I would say since March 2021 we have booked anyone who wants a sight test. Unless you are at a small independent optician with only one person testing and a huge backlog I'm surprised you have been unable to book a sight test.

This has been my experience.

I suggest you take your business to a different optician OP