Glaucoma in family....free eye tests?

FBaby

It is the case as you are over the age of 40. My father suffers from glaucoma as did his grand mother. My dad is treated and therefore ok-ish, his grand-mother went blind.

I told them about my dad the first eye test I had after my 40th. My dad lives abroad so didn't know whether they would request evidence, but they didn't. My eyes are fine so only called every 2 years at the moment.

jetplane

FBaby I would query this, my eyes are fine but I must have annual checks due to paternal glaucoma and have done for over a decade. Two years is usual for a normal patient but the NHS recommends yearly if a close relative has glaucoma. I have been told by more than one optician that changes can be subtle and must be spotted as early as possible. I say this to you with the best intentions

Savvy_Sue

For the benefit of those who don't get free eye tests, we have our eyes done at Boots (was Dolland & Aitcheson) and we seem to be sent a voucher for free eye test just before we're recalled. And this includes the photo of the back of the eye too!

Money_maker

busiscoming2 wrote: »

Yes in lots of places.

http://www.tescoopticians.com/

I would never recommend tesco. Got 3 prescriptions, one from more 'upmarket' optician chain, one from specsavers and one from tesco. So why was tesco prescription completely different? They had to redo the test but the resulting glasses were completely useless.

getmore4less

olias wrote: »

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

kri55i wrote: »

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.

Should have gone to specsavers

Goldiegirl

jetplane wrote: »

FBaby I would query this, my eyes are fine but I must have annual checks due to paternal glaucoma and have done for over a decade. Two years is usual for a normal patient but the NHS recommends yearly if a close relative has glaucoma. I have been told by more than one optician that changes can be subtle and must be spotted as early as possible. I say this to you with the best intentions

I agree - my mum had glaucoma, and I go every year for my eye test.

FBaby

jetplane wrote: »

FBaby I would query this, my eyes are fine but I must have annual checks due to paternal glaucoma and have done for over a decade. Two years is usual for a normal patient but the NHS recommends yearly if a close relative has glaucoma. I have been told by more than one optician that changes can be subtle and must be spotted as early as possible. I say this to you with the best intentions

thanks for your advice. I think in my case, it's been because I've been receiving eye tests since i was in my 20s as unfortunately, I am short-sighted and also had some issues some years ago. My eye pressure is low and consistent, so from their perspective, they would start seeing an increase in pressure before it even gets close to questioning the possibility of glaucoma. I think they said that it would change to annually when I get to 50 or earlier if there was any change. But thanks for mentioning because indeed, time is of essence. So many people don't realise that glaucoma can get to you long before you realise you have a problem and this is why I insisted my husband went. At the age of 45, he had never had an eye test.

Tomcatsmum

FBaby wrote: »

My eye pressure is low and consistent, so from their perspective, they would start seeing an increase in pressure before it even gets close to questioning the possibility of glaucoma.

Unfortunately glaucoma can occurr with low pressure and is called normal tension glaucoma. I would hope that your optician is also assessing your visual field and optic disc for any changes associated with glaucoma damage.

tesuhoha

Just to say it is very necessary to go for the eye tests. My mother in law had glaucoma and my husband has always had free eye tests. He was diagnosed with it a year and a half ago at the age of 61.

FBaby

Tomcatsmum wrote: »

Unfortunately glaucoma can occurr with low pressure and is called normal tension glaucoma. I would hope that your optician is also assessing your visual field and optic disc for any changes associated with glaucoma damage.

Yes they are and no trace of any problem. They have known my father has glaucoma for many years and have checked for any problem for a long time, it is just that since I turned 40, I don't pay for the test, but from their perspective, nothing has changed, they continue to treat me as a patient at potential risk. If you look at the NHS guidance, it says that patients with a family of glaucoma might be called every year, but it doesn't have to be, depending on circumstances.