Private sight test £35.00

If you do not qualify for an NHS sight test you can be seen for a sight test privately.

What is required in a sight test

The Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) (No. 2) Regulations 1989 (SI 1230 of 1989), (which apply to both NHS and private patients) say:… when a doctor or optician tests the sight of another person, it shall be his duty-

(a) to perform, for the purpose of detecting signs of injury, disease or abnormality in the eye or elsewhere-

(i) an examination of the external surface of the eye and its immediate vicinity,

(ii) an intra-ocular examination, either by means of an ophthalmoscope or by such other means as the doctor or optician considers appropriate,

(iii) such additional examinations as appear to the doctor or optician to be clinically necessary;

In layman terms this means we check power of eyes to see if spectacles are required.

Then we look at front of the eye to see if it is healthy.

Then we look at back of the eye to see if it is healthy.

We then check that both eyes work together correctly. This is a Binocular vision test.

In patients who are deemed in certain risk categories, such as a family history of glaucoma, we will then check if the pressure in the eye is not too low or too high. This uses a puff of air to check the eye pressure.

In patients who are deemed in certain risk categories, we will assess the visual field using a machine which flashes lights onto a screen.

If the visual fields are failed we can either refer you to your doctor or repeat it again. There will be a fee for any additional appointments.

Advanced Eye Examinations £50.00

Dilation & Goldmann Eye Pressure Test as standard. 40min appointment.Special drops are used to dilate the pupil. This allows a much more comprehensive examination of the retina and optic disc. Eye pressures are taken using the gold standard Goldmann Tonometer. In addition at the Thornaby Practice retinal photographs are taken.

Dry & Watery eye assessment £50.00

Dry eye

Do you get sore, tired eyes?

Do they feel like there is something in them when there isn’t?

Does your vision cloud up or mist over after reading for a while?

All of these are symptoms of dry eye and we would recommend you book in for a dry eye assessment.

An examination of the anterior eye looking specifically at the lid margin and meibomian glands. Special diagnostic dyes are used to assess the tear film.

A Schirmer test is done to assess tear production.

Watery eyes

Do your eyes water excessively?

This also is common sign of dry eyes.

Another cause can be a blocked tear duct. This may need onward referral to an ophthalmologist for surgery to the tear duct.

Emergency eye care £50.00

At both practices we can provide a service for acute problems with your eyes. If you have had new symptoms such as a painful eye, red eye or sudden vision loss within the last 48hrs we recommend an urgent assessment.

The criteria for inclusion of patients may include the following:

• Loss of vision including transient loss
• Ocular pain
• Systemic disease affecting the eye
• Differential diagnosis of the red eye
• Foreign body and emergency contact lens removal (not by the fitting practitioner)
• Dry eye
• Epiphora (watery eye)
• Trichiasis (in growing eyelashes)
• Differential diagnosis of lumps and bumps in the vicinity of the eye
• Recent onset of Diplopia (Double vision)
• Flashes/floaters
• Retinal lesions
• Field defects
• GP referral

Retinal Photographs £10.00

A high resolution digital photograph enables the optometrist to better observe the health of the eye over time. This can make detecting the early signs of disease much easier

NHS Low Vision Assessment

“Sight loss affects people of all ages. As we get older we are increasingly likely to experience sight loss.”

(Access Economics, 2009)

In the UK:

• 1 in 5 people aged 75 and over are living with sight loss
• 1 in 2 people aged 90 and over are living with sight loss
• 63 per cent of people with sight loss are female, 37 per cent are male.
• Estimated two million people in UK living with sight loss.

“The number of people in the UK with sight loss is set to increase dramatically. It is predicted that by 2050 the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double to nearly four million” (Access Economics, 2009)

The Community Low Vision Service

If you still have problems seeing clearly even with up to date spectacles you may have Low Vision. A low vision assessment can help to identify any problems you have and to suggest how to best utilise your vision. The most common example of this is using a magnifier to make small print bigger but there are other low vision aids and advice available.

The service is free of charge and the Low Vision aids are loaned to you for as long as they are useful. Normal spectacles may be needed to get the most out of your Low Vision aid but these are not provided on the scheme.

Accessing the Scheme

The Scheme is available for all patients registered to a GP in the North Tees or the South Tees area. To enter the scheme you will need to have had an up to date sight test in the last year. Your current optician or ophthalmologist will be able to tell you if you meet the requirements (6/18 or less in BE or N9 or less in BE) and they will be able to provide you with a referral into the scheme.

If your last sight test was longer than a year ago another sight test would be required with your optician before entering the scheme. If you do not have an opticians in the area we will happily do a sight test for you but there may be a charge for certain patients.

You should bring the following to any low vision assessment:

• your most recent spectacles
• any magnifiers or low vision aids you have (even if you’re not using them)
• The referral letter from your own optometrist
• anything that can help assess your visual tasks at home, e.g. crosswords, books, newspapers etc.

Mr Iain Mellis is a qualified Optometrists with a Professional Certificate in Low Vision, registered to do the scheme at both Mellis Eyecare practices.