Specialeyes Eyecare Opticians - Most Frequently Asked Questions

That is the most exciting part! We do it for free before every eye test at Specialeyes Eyecare since it is critical to recognise any underlying eye health concerns early on, before they become serious.

You can book your eye test or contact lens test by calling 020-8923-3148 and one of our staff will assist you in scheduling an appointment at your availability. Alternatively, you can book online by clicking here.
You can call us to schedule an appointment at the following times:
10 am–6 pm 7 days a week.
A regular eye test would cost £20. (Including a free OCT retinal scan)

An eye test is a comprehensive examination in which an optician examines your eyesight and eye health for any issues. During eye exams, your glasses prescription is also checked. This is different from your contact lens prescription.

The first thing we perform when you see our optician is a quick, non-invasive pre-screening test to obtain a sense of your overall eye health.
During the pre-screening, we will measure the shape of your eyes and may need to record pressure readings. In addition, we also offer a complimentary OCT retinal scan to all our patients. This allows us to diagnose any eye issues and track the health of your eyes over time. Following the pre-screening, you will next be taken to a test room, during which the optometrist will perform all essential tests.

The optometrist will accompany you into the testing room and start the exam. We thoroughly sanitise all of our equipment before performing any tests.
The optometrist will do a series of tests to figure out your prescription and check the overall health of your eyes. This is to make sure that your prescription is accurate and precise.
Following the completion of the test, the optometrist will discuss your results with you, and if you have any concerns, they will give you appropriate advice and lead you through suitable glasses lens choices to meet your prescription and lifestyle. Treatment options for any eye problems are also discussed, as is referral to a specialist if necessary.
You will be able to acquire a copy of your prescription upon request.

An eye test is an examination in which an optician examines your vision and eye health for any abnormalities. Eye exams also check for eyeglass prescriptions, which differ from contact lens prescriptions.
During a contact lens examination, we will examine the health of the front surface of your eye. We will also take eye curvature readings. Based on this information, we will select a lens that is ideal for your eye shape and health, as well as determine the correct contact lens prescription.

A valid prescription from an eye exam is required for a contact lens exam. This is because we require current measurements of your eyes in order to provide the best results for your contact lens prescription. If you do not have an up-to-date prescription, you can schedule an eye exam by clicking here or calling us at 0208-9233-148.

OCT is an abbreviation for optical coherence tomography. This non-invasive retinal scan provides a complete view of the retina's inner structures. This enables us to evaluate the health of the retina more effectively and diagnose eye disorders at an earlier stage. At Specialeyes Eyecare, we include a free OCT scan with every eye exam.

If you are due for your eye test and are eligible for NHS services, you can receive an eye test for free. Please examine the criteria below to see if you are eligible:
Are you over the age of 60?
Are you registered as blind or partially sighted?
Have you been told you have diabetes or glaucoma?
Have you been told by an optician that you may be at risk of glaucoma?
Are you over 40 and have a close family member who has been diagnosed with glaucoma?
Do you receive or are you listed on a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate?
Do you have a low income and a valid HC2 (full help) or HC3 (partial help) certificate?
If you fulfil any of the above criteria, please contact us at 0208-9233-148 or come into our store.

If you suffer from short-sightedness, you have difficulty seeing objects in the distance. This is due to the fact that the light from what you're looking at is focused in front of the retina rather than on it. It commonly runs in families, so if your mother or father, brother or sister are short-sighted, you may be as well.

When someone is longsighted, the light that enters your eye is focused behind your retina. This means you can see things farther away more clearly than things closer to you.

The front of your eye should normally be round, like a sphere. Astigmatism indicates that the surface of your eye does not have the same curve across all angles. It is sometimes compared to the shape of a rugby ball, with one side flatter and the other steeper. This causes light to focus in two spots when it enters your eye, resulting in distorted vision. This could make your eyes fatigued or give you headaches.

That's a pretty simple question to answer. Yes! The most recent developments in contact lens production have made it possible for patients with astigmatism to have contact lenses.
You may not need special astigmatism lenses if you have a mild case of astigmatism.
Contact lenses that correct astigmatism are known as "Toric" lenses. They are available in rigid gas permeable lenses and in soft lenses. For patients with astigmatism, these lenses are used to correct the astigmatism in order to improve eyesight.

No. There is a physical barrier that stops anything from entering the back of the eye, so contact lenses can never get stuck there.
It is possible for a contact lens to become displaced from the centre of the eye and slide underneath the eyelid. If this occurs, you simply need to slide it back to its original position.

Do not remove the lens right away, since doing so could cause further harm to your eyes. Before attempting to take out the lens, make sure your eyes are well hydrated. If you wear contact lenses, you should try to administer lens comfort eyedrops or lubricating eyedrops until the surface of your eye is moistened. The lenses will become more mobile and easier to remove as a result.
You should visit an optician immediately if you have persistent irritation, pain, or redness. If you need to wear your lenses all day long, please inform your optometrist so that they can help you pick the best lens for your needs.

Lenses with multiple focal distances are called varifocal or progressive lenses. This means that the point of focus shifts as you move your eyes throughout the lens. If you have trouble seeing both far and up close while wearing single vision lenses, you may benefit from switching to progressive lenses. People who have presbyopia typically utilise it.

Presbyopia is known as the inability of the lens in your eye to focus as you move from far to near. This is a sign of ageing and typically affects those over the age of 40. It is an inevitable natural process that cannot be stopped.

Your prescription's numerical value represents the amount of lens power necessary for you to achieve your best possible vision. If you want to know if you're longsighted or shortsighted, just look at your sphere number. How much astigmatism you have is represented by the CYL (cylinder) number. The angle of the astigmatism in your eye is shown by the axis. If your prescription has an "add," this is the reading addition you require to see close up.
When your eye exam is finished, we will let you know if we have your lens in stock. If you've already had an eye exam somewhere but need glasses, you can call us at 0208-923-3148 and give us the information written on your prescription. We'll check our stock and get back to you if we have them.

If we do not currently stock your lenses, we will be able to give you an estimate of how long it will take to have them specifically ordered for you. The typical processing time for lenses is one week. Custom lenses can take up to two weeks to arrive.

Once you've decided on the glasses you want, we'll put them through a machine that traces the design of the lens. Afterward, we use the information from your prescription glasses to select your lens from our inventory. We then align the optical centre of the lens with that of your eye when wearing the glasses. Once the lens is in the right place, it is moved to a different machine where it is shaped into your frame. Then, we'll have to put the lens carefully into your glasses before checking it.

There is no obligation in law for optometrists to inform the DVLA. If a patient does not fulfil the standard, it is their responsibility to inform the DVLA. If a patient doesn't meet the DVLA requirements for driving, the optometrist will advise them not to drive.

If you are driving for personal reasons (Group 1 licence), you may drive subject to achieving the driving criteria. You will not be permitted to drive for work or for any other purpose that requires a group 2 licence.

When applying for a driver's licence, you must declare whether or not you require glasses when driving. If you need glasses while driving, your licence will usually include the code 01 on it.

If you already own a pair of designer spectacles and want lenses fitted, it may be possible to glaze your prescription into your existing frame. Please be aware that we accept no responsibility and are not liable for any damage that may occur during the glazing process. The lab technician will advise you on the possibility of glazing at the time. Please keep in mind that if your frames are not in good condition, the frames may be damaged.

All of our products are 100% genuine and are obtained directly from established optical providers.

Yes, we sell both children's glasses and children's sunglasses. Children's designer glasses are not usually common, but if you see one you like, please let us know in store and we may be able to acquire it for you.
Specialeyes Eyecare Optician - Most Frequently Asked Questions