Free Eye Test at Optical Express

Pablo_Bones

Don't forget that under The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 your employer has to pay for regular eye tests if you use computers for any significant part of your work (I think it's 15 hours or more a week). If these tests find that you need glasses, your employer also has an obligation to contribute to the cost of these.

bigturnip

Employers don't have to provide regular eye tests. The law says that employers have to provide a free eye test upon request from an employee. If there is a problem the optometrist or doctor decides when the next test should be. If you require glasses purely for working on a VDU your employer has to pay for these only if special glasses are required. There is no obligation for employers to contribute towards glasses where normal glasses are needed, even if used to work on a VDU.

There is also no limit to how many hours you have to use a VDU before being entitled to a free eyetest, the law just states "The Regulations apply where staff habitually use VDUs as a significant part of their normal work".

In reality employers will often provide better cover than they are required to by law, but the regulations and guidelines don't quite give as many rights as most people think.

OhDrat_2

Nowhere within 40 miles of me

jules_2

The shop in Leamington is brilliant!

Pablo_Bones

bigturnip wrote: »

Employers don't have to provide regular eye tests. The law says that employers have to provide a free eye test upon request from an employee.

Just to clarify - the law does state that after you have requested an eye test the employer has a duty to ensure regular tests after that.

"(3) At regular intervals after an employee has been provided with an eye and eyesight test in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), his employer shall, subject to paragraph (6), ensure that he is provided with a further eye and eyesight test of an appropriate nature, any such test to be carried out by a competent person" -

I was told by a Union person that the employer had to contribute to the glasses, but looking at the letter of the law this does not seem to be the case. Thankfully my company did anyway!

rabialiones

i think you may have to purchase glasses from them to get the free eye test.

RobinH_2

My company is trying to force us to use their designated supplier of eye tests which is vision express. I guess they have a deal with them but many of us are pretty peaved that we can not use our chosen optician, with whome we may have a long-standing trust of.

madkitty

was there any clarification on this voucher as I have booked an appoitnment for next week

boldaslove

this would be great if it is truly free. Has anyone done it yet? Nagged my employer for a whole year about eye tests, they did have an reimbursment scheme in place but when my friend never got her money back off them i decided to do it myself... I've left now anyway

chuckles1066

bigturnip wrote: »

Employers don't have to provide regular eye tests. The law says that employers have to provide a free eye test upon request from an employee

Yes, my employer refunds any costs incurred as a result of an eye test.

And, for someone needing glasses for the first time, they make a substantial contribution to the cost.