Your eye examination is due, so where's the best place to get an eye test?
This question is a bit like asking "Where's the best place to buy a car?"
Whilst it's an extremely important question, to answer it you need to decide what's important to you. When choosing a car you'd factor in comfort, efficiency, looks, tech, reliability, manufacturing etc.
When choosing an optician, what do you look for? (no pun intended)
Is it sustainability, thoroughness of test, quality of glasses, qualifications of staff, latest technology/equipment, level of service, supporting local, convenience or simply cost?
Sustainability
You came here to find an optician and suddenly you're reading about the planet?!
I know, stay with me.
Most of you will be aware of the impact of fast-fashion, and understand the choices you make accordingly. But one area that is often overlooked is (literally) right in front of our eyes; our eyewear.
Glasses are often made from plastic, and the lenses are manufactured using water, probably the worst combination when it comes to sustainability! There are many sustainable frame and lens options available, so be sure to check your optician's green initiatives if this is important to you.
Quality of glasses
How can glasses range from £30 to £2500?!
Simply, quality.
Like new cars can range from £14k to £25mil (yes, I had to Google 'Rolls Royce Boat Tail' as I didn't believe it!) glasses price varies hugely depending on quality.
A few factors that affect price:
Where frames & lenses are made
Production in China & India generally costs less than those made in Europe & Japan.
How frames & lenses are made
Handcrafted artisan eyewear will cost more than mass-produced machine made frames.
Lenses using sustainable materials and processes will cost more.
Frame material
Titanium is lighter and stronger than nickel and costs more.
Acetate frames that have been cured (just like a fine wine should be aged!) will hold their shape and last longer, but the process takes up to 6 months and therefore costs more.
Some frames have 22kt gold detailing... true jewellery for your face!
Lens technology
Lens technology is always developing (like tech in phones/computers) to give the best vision possible, and latest innovation will cost more.
Lens type
Single vision lenses will cost less than varifocal lenses.
Thinner/lighter/tougher lenses will cost more than standard plastic lenses.
Thoroughness
One of the main things that affects the cost of your appointment at the opticians is time spent with the optometrist... medical professionals aren't cheap to employ, after all!
However, the thoroughness of an in-depth health examination lasting an hour will vary hugely from a 15 minute sight test. If you're under 40 with no family history of eye problems, you may feel that a quick check is adequate.
Just make sure you're getting the type of examination that's right for you.
Staff qualifications
An optician is an optician, right? Not always...
To save money, some practices use non-qualified staff to perform tests and the results are simply reviewed by an optometrist. Some practices also have non-qualified team members dispensing glasses.
This may be OK for you, but it's important you are aware of the difference.
If you would prefer to only be seen by a medical professional, there are practices where the optometrist will perform all examinations themselves, and the glasses dispensed by a qualified dispensing optician. Just ask if you're unsure!
Technology / Equipment
Nowadays most opticians will have, at the very least, a camera to take a photograph of the back of your eye. However, this is a very outdated bit of technology (think pre-smartphone photo quality!)
Gold-standard for detecting early signs of eye conditions is to have both an Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan and Optos ultra-widefield imaging (Optomap).
Optomap imaging captures up to 85% of the retina in less than a second. This revolutionary equipment was invented by Douglas Anderson after his 5-year-old son went blind in one eye from an undiagnosed retinal detachment.
This slideshow highlights the difference between traditional techniques to view the retina compared with Optomap imaging. The last slide shows a retinal hole which wasn't visible previously.
An OCT scan helps view the back of the eye in greater detail as it provides a 3D view through the layers of the retina. A little bit like an ultrasound, only using visible light so completely safe for the eye!
Service
Would you like to be greeted by name with a glass of bubbles? If so, that level of service is out there! You might not know it, but there are many boutique-style opticians across the UK offering a whole new level of eyecare.
You can usually tell from a company's website or social media what they offer.
Luxury vs no-frills service... think budget airline vs First Class.
It's personal preference but, of course, the cost will generally match the service.
Cost
It's absolutely no surprise that eye tests costing the least will generally be from the big chains. These are often quick checks as they see lots of people in one day.
If cost is the only deciding factor, an optician providing personal in-depth eyecare using latest healthcare technology probably isn't for you (as state-of-the-art equipment and optometrist time are the expensive bits!).
Quick low-priced (sometimes even free) eye tests can be found at most high street chains.
By Hayley Brunsden Founder @cbtropticians
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