Glaucoma in family....free eye tests?

olias

Hi all,

At the grand old age of 47, I have finally decided to get an eye test. My dad has glaucoma, and I have been told that because of this, I am entitled to free eye tests. Can anyone confirm this please? Also, if true, what evidence do I need? I'm assuming i don't just tell the optician and he believes me and takes it on trust?

Thanks

Olias

fluffnutter

You are indeed entitled to a free test. The link below explains how to go about it.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/895.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=157

kri55i

Hi, I work at an opticians and your grandad certainly is entitled to a free eye tests. Also Diabetic patients are entitiled to free tests too.

In our opticians (as we are only very small) the patient has to tell us they are entitled to a free eyetest and we give them a form to fill out and sign which means we can then claim the money back.

Most opticians will do this.

justme111

I would advised to look where you going for it , probably better small conscientious place and don't try to save on it , NHS system has its limitations and although I am not aware of particular ones in optic/eye doctor ones as I work for NHS myself I guess there are some , if the above poster commented on it would be nice. I know about some stuff missed by specsavers .

GlasweJen

Quality varies by optometrist, I worked in an independent (private) opticians and then my boss went into a partnership with Specsavers. Now I work for Specsavers in the same building, same people, same client list but we have nicer (and more accurate) machines, better staff benefits and boss has access to better support so it's all changed for the better really. I have worked in other optical practices before and met some truly brilliant optometrists and also some pretty dismal ones and it's not a case of pay more money see better optician - I find that the more up market places concentrate more on finding a prescription change to get more money out of you!

owen_money

Tesco's did eye tests free for everyone, not sure if they still do

eamon

What you could be better of doing is getting your GP to refer you a NHS consultant and get yourself and your family history on your local glaucoma watch scheme. I'm on this and get a full (free) eye test twice a year with the results filtered back to my consultant.

GlasweJen

That system would be a local one, in Scotland because all eye tests are free the hospital don't want to know about glaucoma family history unless the person has high IOPs or abnormal discs or fields. They do get a sight test every year (normal is every 2 years) but this is at the opticians and not through the hospital eye service, any GP who attempted to refer someone with no symptoms for monitoring would get a rude letter from the consultants - probably along the same lines as the letter optometrists get when they refer and the consultant doesn't deem the case as being serious enough.

busiscoming2

owen_money wrote: »

Tesco's did eye tests free for everyone, not sure if they still do

Yes in lots of places.

http://www.tescoopticians.com/

lazywife

If you are over forty and have a direct relative with glaucoma you are entitled to a free sight test on the NHS. Most opticians carry out sight tests that can be on the NHS (you are best to enquire when you ring/pop in to make the appointment). You will be asked to sign a form which is in NHS declaration to say that your Dad has glaucoma and that you are over 40. No proof is required as it's not really possible to present any proof.
Be sure to inform the optometrist of your family history and they will carry out the necessary tests. Further tests may be offered at a cost, if they are necessary, the optometrist is obliged to complete them as part of the NHS examination. If however they are a useful diagnostic tool then there may be a small charge (for example a photograph of the inside of the eye).
I would not differentiate the skill of an optometrist purely on the cost of their sight test. Ask your friends/colleagues for a recommendation and go with that.
L.xxx

Kitiara

My Dad had glaucoma and my Sister recently had a high reading so I thought I had better get checked out. I had an eye test last week and all is fine other than needing glasses for reading and PC. I was asked about family history and mentioned my Dad and Sis and was told that as I am over 40 I didnt need to pay for my eye test. I wasn't asked for any proof and because of the family history was given a more thorough test than just the normal "puff" test. I'm so relieved and would say to anyone with a history of glaucoma in the family to go and be checked .... as my dad used to say "eyes are not like nails - they dont grow back"