Eye tests

[bluejeans98]

Today I rang Specsavers to see about a free diabetic eye test. I have been with them for about 5 years now. I was told I could not have a free test until I get a letter to say I am on the diabetics register and It would also come with a PIN number. How long does it take to get the letter as I am heading into 6th week since being diagnosed as a Type 2. I have my card for free prescriptions. That came through very fast.

 

[ally1]

sorry i,ve no idea,
i didn,t realise diabetics had free eye tests, i had my eyes tested in july and i paid and had told them i,m diabetic

 

[Brunneria]

I haven't paid for an eye test for years.

Mr B went for a test at Boots Opticians, years ago. He came out with a voucher for a free eye test.
I used it - telling them I was prediabetic. They did extra retina tests as a result. For free.
Now we regularly get vouchers through the post offering free eye tests.
Which reminds me, I need to book one...

 

[tim2000s]

What's the Diabetic Register? First I've heard of it! (and I've been getting free eye tests for years, but then I have a tendency to 'make a scene if people start to get too particular about whether or not I'm diabetic and have been known to stand there and stick myself with insulin to prove a point and make the other party feel uncomfortable)

 

[LittleGreyCat]

Where does this letter and PIN originate?
Is it from somewhere in Spec Savers after your GP has written to them?

Google turns up a Spec Savers web site which seems to say that you only qualify if you are 16, 17, or 18.
However
http://www.specsavers.co.uk/ask-the...vers-do-free-eye-tests-for-diabetic-patients/
says that all ophthalmologists offer free eye tests to diabetics.

All the first page of Google hits seem to be about Spec Savers.

I get free eye tests because my mother had glaucoma - as far as I can remember I just signed a form to declare this at the opticians.

So:

(1) Ask Spec Savers how you go about getting this letter
(2) Try another independent optician - they may turn out to be much more helpful.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Eyecarecosts.aspx
says
"
You qualify for a free NHS funded sight test if you are:

• aged under 16, or aged under 19 and in full-time education
• aged 60 or over
• registered blind or partially sighted
• diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
• aged 40 or over and you are the parent, brother, sister, son or daughter of a person diagnosed with glaucoma, or you have been advised by an ophthalmologist that you are at risk of glaucoma
• eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher
• a prisoner on leave from prison

You are also entitled to a free NHS sight test if:

• you receive Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (not contribution based)
• you receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• you receive Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• you are awarded Universal Credit
• you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
• you are named on a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)

People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help.

Also read about the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).
"

Doesn't tell you how to claim for it up front, but there is a link further down for how to claim a refund if you have already paid.
Your GP may know how to do this - but Spec Savers should have told you how to arrange the free test

 

[bluejeans98]

http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/the-patient-with-newly-diagnosed-diabetes

 

[Bluetit1802]

Today I rang Specsavers to see about a free diabetic eye test. I have been with them for about 5 years now. I was told I could not have a free test until I get a letter to say I am on the diabetics register and It would also come with a PIN number. How long does it take to get the letter as I am heading into 6th week since being diagnosed as a Type 2. I have my card for free prescriptions. That came through very fast.

You should be referred for a retinal eye screening test by your nurse. Chase this up if you haven't heard anything. These are not the same as ordinary eye tests for spectacles.

 

[Bluetit1802]

sorry i,ve no idea,
i didn,t realise diabetics had free eye tests, i had my eyes tested in july and i paid and had told them i,m diabetic

Ally, eye tests for new glasses are free for people on certain benefits, as well as diabetics.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/the-patient-with-newly-diagnosed-diabetes

All this says is
"They should also be advised that they are exempt from prescription charges if started on medication for their diabetes."

Looks as though the problem is at the Spec Savers end.

 

[alliebee]

There isn't a register for diabetics in uk. There is in australia but not here

 

[julifriend]

I've only had one eye test since diagnosis and if I recall correctly, I just had to tick a box and sign the form that Specsavers had. I wasn't asked to 'prove' I was diabetic.

 

[annelise]

I beg to disagree with some of you above posters.

An optician has quite another background/education than a specialized 'eye specialist' (whose background is firstly a full medical degree and then going forward to become an eye specialist (a Phd or a doctorate after several years – at least in my neck of the woods in Denmark).

I would never dream of using an optician as an eye specialist.

Now I am into a routine where I half yearly go to my eye specialist (medical doctor specialised in eye diseases). He will then take his time to use strong lights to examine the backside of my eyes, and to take photographs - and will then compare with earlier photographs to see if deterioration has occurred.

So sorry if your systen is not geared to this.

But then, I may have somehow 'been lucky', got into the 'eye specialist system' several years ago with a glaucoma ( well controlled) and two very successful cataract operations.

annelise

- oh, and when diagnosed with T2, my GP said that I should see an eye doctor, but was already in the system...

 

[Kezzer4321]

I go to spec savers every year and my eye tests are free. I think maybe you confused them by asking for a diabetic eye test. If you are just after an eye test call them back and book a normal appointment and where tell them you are now diabetic and it will be free.

 

[Nuthead]

Got my free test at asda. Guy was brilliant. No hassle. I just said i was diabetic.

 

[poohtiggy]

Today I rang Specsavers to see about a free diabetic eye test. I have been with them for about 5 years now. I was told I could not have a free test until I get a letter to say I am on the diabetics register and It would also come with a PIN number. How long does it take to get the letter as I am heading into 6th week since being diagnosed as a Type 2. I have my card for free prescriptions. That came through very fast.

I had my diagnosis in May this year and the nurse said I was now registered with a code number she did not give me the number but told me when I got the letter for my retinal screening it would have a code on it. I was told it might take up to 3 months to get a letter so I wouldn't worry after 6 weeks. When you receive your letter it will have a list of qualified opticians who carry out retinal screening, you choose the one you want to go to ie:Specsavours, you ring them, they ask for the code on the letter and will then arrange an appointment for you. This is a different test to an eye test (which are free for diabetics) they take in-depth pictures of the back of the eye which is not included in a normal eye test, it is only for diabetics. Be a patient patient, your letter will arrive but you cannot get the test done without it and Specsavers are not responsible for any delay they only arrange the test. Good luck with the test when you get it

Today I rang Specsavers to see about a free diabetic eye test. I have been with them for about 5 years now. I was told I could not have a free test until I get a letter to say I am on the diabetics register and It would also come with a PIN number. How long does it take to get the letter as I am heading into 6th week since being diagnosed as a Type 2. I have my card for free prescriptions. That came through very fast.

 

[chris lowe]

My gp wrote to retinopathy department at local hospital for my eye test. I'e had one annually for the last four years and the hospital send me an appointment automatically each year. I've never heard of a diabetic register in the UK either. I'm trying to remember what I did for the normal Boots eye test when I was diagnosed at diabetic, I think I just told them and they ticked off the box on the form, anyway I've not had to pay for a test since.

 

[poohtiggy]

Got my free test at asda. Guy was brilliant. No hassle. I just said i was diabetic.

Yes, for a normal eye test it's easy but Blue Jeans is chasing his 'retinal screening' test which is completely different and done following diagnosis but you are right, diabetics get free eye tests

 

[CarbsRok]

I went to spec saver at the beginning of October, they did a full eye test plus a photograph as part of the eye test. From what I understood everyone over the age of 40 has their eyes photographed. Test was completely free as well.

 

[chris lowe]

By the way, even though you get a diabetic eye test at the retinopathy dept, it's still worth getting an eye test. Mr. Chris rcently had an eye test and found he had the start of glaucoma, which they don't test for on a diabetic test. Luckily because they caught it so early he had laser treatment on both eyes and fingers crossed, everything is now ok.

 

[poohtiggy]

I went to spec saver at the beginning of October, they did a full eye test plus a photograph as part of the eye test. From what I understood everyone over the age of 40 has their eyes photographed. Test was completely free as well.

I agree, I have an annual eye test with Specsavers and they do photograph the back of the eye but a normal optician does not have the qualifications to carry out retinal screening this is done by a specialist optician, at an optician of your choice, it,'s only available to diabetics and yes it's free. The specialist is trained to look for Retinopathy and any damage being caused by diabetese. The optition should recall all diabetics on an annual basis