Goodbye Dollond & Aitchison

Robert_Sterling_3

Running_Horse wrote: »

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/4388348/Dollond-and-Aitchison-disappers-from-the-high-street-with-Boots-Opticians-merger.html

Once they were number one, in fact the only truly national chain. Not sure if they were victims of recession, or mismanagement, and aiming too high in terms of quality and price.

I hope they can see their way clear of the credit crunch.

Snooze

Well I agree with PN to an extent. If you can see alright then I don't get the point of an eye test. If it ain't broke then don't try to fix it.

I had an eye test about 15 years ago when I was out of work and decided to take advantage of the Government paying for it and even back then they mentioned that one of my eyes was a bit dodgy and needed "correction". Of course being the lazy @rse that I am and having seen the prices of the glasses on the shelves I didn't do anything about it and life carried on as normal.

What intrigues me with all these replies above about these so-called horrible eye diseases is, how exactly does an optician know if you've got them or not? I thought optician's made a decision on whether your eyes are toast by getting you to read out a load of progressively smaller letters? How does that tell them if you've got retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma or a brain tumour? I would have thought one would've needed a doctor to be make such a diagnoses ?

Am I missing something here or is this yet another 'unnecessary scaremongering' thread?

Rob

BettiePage

Snooze wrote: »

How does that tell them if you've got retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma or a brain tumour? I would have thought one would've needed a doctor to be make such a diagnoses ?

Am I missing something here or is this yet another 'unnecessary scaremongering' thread?

Rob

A Dr will quite often send a patient to an optician as they know more about eyes than they do. An eye test no longer consists of just reading progressively smaller letters.

Really2

Snooze wrote: »

What intrigues me with all these replies above about these so-called horrible eye diseases is, how exactly does an optician know if you've got them or not? I thought optician's made a decision on whether your eyes are toast by getting you to read out a load of progressively smaller letters? How does that tell them if you've got retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma or a brain tumour? I would have thought one would've needed a doctor to be make such a diagnoses ?

Am I missing something here or is this yet another 'unnecessary scaremongering' thread?

Rob

Does a doctor look in to the back of your eyes and your optic nerver or are they some one who as a general medical knowlage.
You need an Eye speciaist to diagnose it, check presures, damedg etc.

Or you can go through life thinking it won't happen to me then just rely on a stick and a dog if it does happen.

State bailout for peoples unwillingness to look after themselves?
I take it you do not moan about the current situation with the economy then.

You are missing the point and a fool to think people make genuin coments and you think it is scare mongering to increase eye appointment trade.:rolleyes:

Snooze

Really2 wrote: »

You are missing the point and a fool to think people make genuin coments and you think it is scare mongering to increase eye appointment trade.:rolleyes:

I think you need to calm down, dear, and perhaps take an eye test yourself as you have clearly missed the part where I said "Am I missing something here or" before my views on it possibly being another scaremongering thread. Clearly I was missing something as I didn't know opticians could do all the stuff you stated. But I do now.

Rob

vivatifosi

Well said Really,

I have been tested for RP. It involved about 1 hour of tests at the opticians and a referral to the local hospital for additional tests. The tests at the both included a field test, as your field of vision diminishes with RP. I could never have received this from a GP as they don't have the equipment. Similarly the glaucoma test is where they puff air into the eye, again nothing to do with the eye chart.

You may need to wait a while, but it is generally possible to get an eye test voucher for free sooner or later, so why take chances?

Really2

Snooze wrote: »

I think you need to calm down, dear, and perhaps take an eye test yourself as you have clearly missed the part where I said "Am I missing something here or" before my views on it possibly being another scaremongering thread. Clearly I was missing something as I didn't know opticians could do all the stuff you stated. But I do now.

Rob

Well people did put links their and spoke from experience.
It's anoying because instead of actualy checking and beliving people (who must in your eyes have nothing better to do than worry people)
You just post somthing which was frankly bizzare and ignorant.

moneysavinmonkey

Snooze wrote: »

Well I agree with PN to an extent. If you can see alright then I don't get the point of an eye test. If it ain't broke then don't try to fix it.
Rob

Another wind up?

You are referring to a sight test which is where the optician determines your prescription quite crudely by trying different lenses until you can see well.

What people on this thread are talking about is an eye check up or exam(ination) This is where the optician looks into your eyes and checks the health of them. This usually happens in the same appointment but sometimes you have one without the other, it sounds like you only had an eye test. People, including opticians tend to interchange the words , I need to get regular health checkups and I always have to double check that when I book in this is what I will get and not just a sight test.

Opticians are trained and experienced to notice any miniscule changes in the eyes, as well as looking at the front of you eye, checking colour etc and into your lens they will look at the back of your eye, they can also measure the pressure in your eye and take photographs of your retina. If you have any further problems they are able to use drops to further examine your eyes such as those weird yellow drops which highlight any problems in your cornea or dilating drops so they can get a better look into your eye.

If you have any serious problem then you will be referred to a hospital optometrist who is a doctor who specialises in eyes. They will usually do exactly the same tests the optician did but they may also do other tests like blood tests or scans etc to confirm a diagnosis and arrange treatment.

I've had a few bouts of uveitis which if left untreated can lead to blindness. These happened when I was in my late teens at university. On two occasions I just ignored/coped with the initial symptoms (vision worsening, slight pain in eye) until it got bad and only then went to the opticians. The condition was easily treated but because of the delay I was left with some damage to my iris/lens and increased risk of glaucoma. Fortunately the damage isn't significant and I can hardly notice it but it has taught me a lesson!

There is absolutely no reason to not go for an eye test, you can usually get them for free if you shop around and there is no obligation to buy glasses.

If discussion of our various yucky eye diseases is scare mongoring then so be it - I don't see anything wrong in encouraging people to go for eye check ups, what's the justification for discouraging them?

Current Free Eye Exams:

Tesco Opticians voucher
http://www.tesco.com/todayattesco/health/coupons/coupon-sight-test.pdf

Nectar Customers: check your online deals for free D&A eye examination voucher.

'Walk in' offers - quite often during the week if opticians are quiet they put a 'A'-board outside advertising free check up

'Direct Debit' customers. If you pay for lenses by direct debit scheme this often includes free aftercare so checkups are free.

Request information on LASIK surgery, they will do the most comprehensive eye health check possible as part of their free initial consultation.
e.g. http://www.ultralase.com/vites/home-obs

Free Contact Lens assessments - include an eye health check up (although check they don't charge you if you don't take up the offer of contact lenses)

Move to Scotland
Eye examinations are free north of the border if you are resident so
if you're scottish you have no excuse!
Same applies for anyone old/young/on benefits who in the UK who is entitled to free check up.

itsnever2lateisit?

Lalaladybird wrote: »

Eye tests are free now, I think, and they check for other eye problems as well as sight.

Sadly not universal, certain groups do get a test on the NHS, the young, some on benefits and those whose famillies have a history of certain eye conditions. Also Pregnant women are entitled to a free test, but I wouldnt advise PN to go down that route as an offspring costs about £250,000 to age 18:eek:

Snooze

moneysavinmonkey wrote: »

Another wind up?

:rolleyes: No, it's not "another wind up". I'll explain it in simple, logical terms to you :

Do you go to the doctors every 6-12 months for a check-up if you're feeling perfectly fine? No. So why should it be any different for your eyes? If you can see fine and your eyes aren't giving you any issues then I see no reason to go and get them checked every 6-12 months.

Seems that this is turning into an 'unnecessary scaremongering' thread after all. :rolleyes:

Rob