Disability services: Specavers home eye test

I’ve shared in a previous blog post about disability services I use and would recommend and I wanted to add about Specsavers home eye tests to this list.

Recently I had a home eye test and I wanted to leave a review and also make people aware that this service is available. Having an eye test at home is something I’ve had before in the past but it was quite a while ago. I recently chose to have my eye test at home again because of the lack of accessibility at my two local Specsavers - I wanted to go with Specavers specifically as I needed new glasses and I wanted to get Cath Kidston frames which only Specsavers do.

It was really convenient, I was able to ask for an afternoon appointment to work around when I’m free after my PA (carer) had finished work. They don’t specify a time so there was a bit of waiting around for them to turn up.

Once they arrive they are able to set up wherever you’d be most comfortable so in a chair or staying sat in your wheelchair or even in bed if needed for some people.

They started by taking a medical history and asking about how my vision has been since my last eye test and any problems I’ve been experiencing. They also ask if I was still under the hospital eye clinic - they check this especially if your illness affects your vision.

You don’t get the fully comprehensive test that you’d get in store as they can’t bring every piece of equipment with them. They did have a small gadget to measure the pressure in my eyes and an opthalmascope to look into the back of my eyes.

They used an iPad for the letter board and set that up and used the traditional lens changing glasses and did a traditional eye test asking me the usual questions over and over like if one looks better than two, or three looks better than four, or whether I could see the letters better with or without etc. as well as asking what letters could be read on what line. They also checked my prism for my double vision and asked whether my double vision goes side-to-side or over the top - for me it the former.

They’d brought along with them a big case of glasses to look at. I’d asked for two particular Cath Kidston frames to be bought along but only one had been brought so I’m waiting for them to come back. - That’s another big downside to home eye tests, you don’t have a shop full of frames to choose from and you’re very limited on what they bring along with them especially as they have to bring a selection that will suit a range of ages and styles for a wide variety of people.

You do have to be eligible for home eye tests whether this be because of a physical disability or a mental illness or due to health issues in old age. They also go through other things such as whether you’re eligible for free NHS eye tests and if you do buy glasses what gets funded and what you have to pay.

They brought with them a mini printer and printed off my prescription.

If needed they can refer people to their GP or to the hospital for further consultation. In my case because my health conditions affect my vision they put me down as needing another eye test in one years time just to keep an eye on any changes. 

 All-in-all it’s a service I’d recommend this service if accessing an traditional opticians would be difficult for you for whatever reason, whether that be poor physical access to physically get into an opticians, or due to being housebound or bed bound because of physical or mental health illness. It was easy and convenient to book my appointment and to prove my eligibility for a home eye test. It also meant that my eyes got tested rather than going without especially as my illness does affect my vision.

Tip: if you do see some frames online you like you can ask them to bring them and hopefully they will.

The only reason why there was a mix up with the frames I requested was because my appointment got rescheduled and they’re been some miscommunication and they’d forgotten to bring the frames to the rescheduled appointment.