Don't know which opticians to go to for my regular eye test. Worn glasses for about 8 years now for driving but this will be my first appointment since being diagnosed type2. Searched the internet but can't decide. Looked at one well known company and only slight mention of diabetes. I realise that maybe opticians are not allowed to be mentioned by name. Obviously I would like to take up any free offers, 2 for 1 would be brilliant. Has anyone got any thoughts please.
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Eye test and new glasses
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cugila
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As A Diabetic it is very important that you have regular checks done on your eyes.
You should make an appointment with an Approved Optician for Retinopathic Screening test not a regular sight test. You are entitled to one free one per year. Your local GP Surgery or the PCT should have a list of suitable Opticians.
Link about eye tests:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/eyes/eye-pro ... -tests.htm
Ken.
You should make an appointment with an Approved Optician for Retinopathic Screening test not a regular sight test. You are entitled to one free one per year. Your local GP Surgery or the PCT should have a list of suitable Opticians.
Link about eye tests:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/eyes/eye-pro ... -tests.htm
Ken.
Spiral
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I have recently been to Specsavers for my first varifocals :shock: The optician I saw wrote to my GP to ensure I was given a diabetic screening test, which is due this coming Friday. I was quite happy with the service. Being diabetic means that you get free sight tests, wherever you go 
I also had some single vision prescription sunglasses made up, very odd, changing between varifocal to single vision.
I have found that my prescription has changed noticably since my last test a year ago. Is this my age or the effects of diabetes? I am so short sighted I can't actually see the top letter without my specs :roll: and an optician once told me this was good because it would mean that I wouldn't need varifocals/bifocals until a bit later than usual (I'm 47 this week).
I also had some single vision prescription sunglasses made up, very odd, changing between varifocal to single vision.
I have found that my prescription has changed noticably since my last test a year ago. Is this my age or the effects of diabetes? I am so short sighted I can't actually see the top letter without my specs :roll: and an optician once told me this was good because it would mean that I wouldn't need varifocals/bifocals until a bit later than usual (I'm 47 this week).
cugila
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Spiral said:
Hi Spiral.
I used to wear glasses for distance/driving. Since taking tight control of my Diabetes and reducing my Bg levels my eyesight has improved to such an extent that I no longer need those glasses. I can now pick out detail that was previously blurred. So your eyesight changes may just be due to Diabetes ? Age........naaah !
Ken.
Thank you for all your replies. I had been thinking about Specsavers which led me to put my query on the forum to see what anyone else thought. Sorry maybe I didn't phrase my query properly. I have been wearing glasses for a few years now. I was diagnosed T2 last Sept. I am aware about retinal screening and had this done for the first time about 4 months ago on the NHS. All was ok. My query now is that I know I need a new prescription for new glasses and wondered where to go to get the best deal and also somewhere who care about diabetic sight.
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We, the whole family used to go to one of the major opticians to get our eyes checked but we changed them to another one because the first one started to mess us about something rotten and did not even honor their guarantee when my sons frames broke and the glass fell out while he was watching TV.
When we changed to another known option, I told them that I was diabetic and without asking me they did a retinophaty screening test which I thought was a normal thing to do but then they wanted to charge me £10 for it. Had they asked me I would have told them that I get that done for free by the NHS and had in fact had one done about 6 weeks prior but no, all they were interested in getting that 10 quid off me.
A few months ago, my wife went there to get her eyes tasted and they did exactly the same thing to her as well and she is not even diabetic. Then they made us panic by telling my wife that she had high pressure in her eyes and she should go see her GP. She was then referred to the hospital where she was told that there was nothing wrong with her eye pressure which has left us to wonder if they did it on purpose so that they had an excuse to take a photo of her eyes just to earn another 10 quid from another customer. In both cases I told them that we had not asked for this test and refused to pay, they tried to tell me that it was a "new procedure" and all that sales c**p but didn't get away with it.
"Two for one" sound good but they will and od get their money back off us one way or another.
I think we'll try an small (family run maybe) optician next time and give these big ones a miss.
When we changed to another known option, I told them that I was diabetic and without asking me they did a retinophaty screening test which I thought was a normal thing to do but then they wanted to charge me £10 for it. Had they asked me I would have told them that I get that done for free by the NHS and had in fact had one done about 6 weeks prior but no, all they were interested in getting that 10 quid off me.
A few months ago, my wife went there to get her eyes tasted and they did exactly the same thing to her as well and she is not even diabetic. Then they made us panic by telling my wife that she had high pressure in her eyes and she should go see her GP. She was then referred to the hospital where she was told that there was nothing wrong with her eye pressure which has left us to wonder if they did it on purpose so that they had an excuse to take a photo of her eyes just to earn another 10 quid from another customer. In both cases I told them that we had not asked for this test and refused to pay, they tried to tell me that it was a "new procedure" and all that sales c**p but didn't get away with it.
"Two for one" sound good but they will and od get their money back off us one way or another.
I think we'll try an small (family run maybe) optician next time and give these big ones a miss.
Some of the large chains can be franchises and quality may very depending on who actually owns it. I have also been told by other people, they can be great on the 2 for 1's as long as your eyesight is not too far from normal, but need anything out of the ordinary and there are much bigger costs. As they can be basically glasses shops and not medical resources.
I go to a small independant firm, but I have been there a while and I trust them, I have used independants in the past and had problems (not diabetic related)
The thing to do really is to try them and see, and when you find somebody that you trust, stick with them.
Ask for quote before hand and costs look at htem and wigh them up like you would anything else.
I go to a small independant firm, but I have been there a while and I trust them, I have used independants in the past and had problems (not diabetic related)
The thing to do really is to try them and see, and when you find somebody that you trust, stick with them.
Ask for quote before hand and costs look at htem and wigh them up like you would anything else.
carty
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I have worn glasses since I was 18 months old and am now well past my bus pass ! I have used the same independent firm for many years in fact 2 of the opticians have retired whilst I have been a customer I have always had good service and if I am not happy or have a question I know I can always go and ask .Also they do minor repairs and adjustments free of charge they ask about my health and comment if they think cholesterol is a bit high I find this peace of mind worth far more than 2 for 1 although my husband did get free prescription sunglasses the fist time he needed glasses.
CAROL
CAROL
