Should my employer pay for my eye test?

spookmeister

I work at a VDU and I am wondering whether my employer is required to pay for eye tests. People keep telling me that it is only the case if I work at my desk for any given duration but I have read a guide on the HSE website that say if I request it they have to pay for it. There is no mention of having to be "exposed" for any particular length of time. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf page 5 is where it states this. Can anyone clarify this further for me? Many thanks. S.

custardy

if you shop around you can often find free eye test deals

filigree_2

They're not obliged to pay for your eye tests, and they don't have to pay for your glasses if you get some prescribed. That's an urban myth that still persists.

All adults should have regular eye tests whether they work on a VDU or not, and pay for it unless they qualify for free tests because they're unemployed. Some employers pay for tests as a good will gesture but you can't depend on it.

If the optician decides you need glasses for regular wear you will have to pay for them. If he tells you you need glasses specifically for VDU work and nothing else then your employers have to pay for the glasses. Only a tiny minority of people have sight problems at the exact focal length needed for VDU work so you can't depend on free glasses.

I think the best bet is to search around for free eye tests, but please don't let the cost put you off getting a test - it is important for your eyes and health in general to get tested regularly.

nedmundo

There's a European directive that states if an employee uses a visual display unit (VDU) for a significant proportion of their time, the the employer is required to make provision for eye examinations (i.e. pay for them!) and for any optical appliance that is specifically for VDU only (quite rare in practice).

Employers are at liberty to dictate where and when the eye exam can be provided.

Being a European law, it applies to UK but there is no-one to enforce it. Having said that, employers are paranoid about being sued if they fail to adhere to it and therefore tend to play ball.

Incidently, no one has ever proven that VDUs do any harm to eyesight - funny isn't it!

Woby_Tide

Our local tesco seems to have free eye tests permanently at the moment. The only advantage if the employer will pay is that you get the voucher which could get you money towards a pair if you require them. If you don't think you'll need that voucher to buy glasses then just get a freebie from whereever