We take our time with you in all aspects of your visit, not just trying on frames. Your test will usually last around 30 minutes, but if we need to take longer, we will.

Your eye examination will start with a short questionnaire performed by our friendly reception team. Don't worry; we will complete the form for you. This questionnaire helps us to gain important information from you in terms of what you use your glasses for. It's just a nice casual chat and if you want a coffee while we do this, then we can also provide this. You can also take this time to browse our selection of beautiful frames.

Following this brief questionnaire, our experienced optometrist will come and collect you from the waiting area and take you through to our exam room where your eye exam will be conducted. We do this in a relaxed, comfortable environment. We employ friendly optometrists who will explain your eye exam to you so you know as much as you need to. This will usually take around 30 minutes. Once complete, you will be brought back downstairs to speak to one of our dispensing opticians.

We now take the time to help you pick out a frame that suits you. We are very open and honest, and if we think that a shape or colour of a frame is not right for you, we will tell you and explain why, but at the end of the day it's still your choice. Our dispensing optician will also talk to you about your ophthalmic lens options and what we would recommend. This ophthalmic recommendation is based on the answers from your initial questionnaire along with the results from your eye exam. As we are an independent optician, we are not tied down to one brand of lens and therefore have a lot more options for you to ensure you are getting the best lens for your requirements.

This is all done in a friendly, no pressure environment. Click here to request an eye examination appointment. 

Your sight is important, so you should look after it with the best eye test possible. An Ophthalmic Examination is the best way to care for your eyes. This ophthalmic examination provides early detection of many eye conditions including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and visual field problems. We will measure your corneal thicknesses as well as hospital standard visual field testing and pressure measurements. We assess for binocular vision and muscle problems, dry eye and lid problems. The examinations last for approximately 30 minutes. Following the tests we will discuss the results with you so as you can leave knowing your eyes have had the very best examination possible, allowing detection and prevention of sight-threatening problems.

Zeiss Humphrey Threshold Visual Field Analysis

Your field of vision is every area that you can see with your eyes pointing straight ahead. It is important to have a wide field of vision to help us navigate around, especially when walking or driving. You can lose part or all of your visual field through many different ways including cataracts, glaucoma, strokes, circulatory disorders, neurological conditions, certain brain tumours and even smoking. It is essential to have your visual field regularly assessed as many conditions, if caught early, can be treated.

We use the Zeiss Humphrey Visual Fields 720i - the very same as the one used at the QMC eye clinic.

Our Humphrey Visual Field Analyser is considered the gold standard in advanced visual field testing. It accurately assesses how wide and sensitive your visual field is. Unlike basic visual field screening which concentrates on evaluating large chunks of your vision at a time, the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser can pick up even very subtle defects in your visual field by analysing each nerve pathway in detail. This allows for detection of problems. However, even a perfect visual field should regularly be measured as this provides an accurate individual baseline to monitor future changes from again allowing earlier diagnosis of problems.

Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy

To accurately view the interior and exterior of the eye in 3D we use slit lamp indirect biomicroscopy - a technique which involves specialist skills and an advanced piece of equipment to view all the hard to reach corners of the eye. This method can help us identify retinal bleeds, holes, tears and detachments far more accurately than traditional methods of looking in your eyes. Biomicroscopy also aids detection of diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, Papilloedema (pressure behind the eye), Truemacular degeneration, hypertension and many other conditions.

Colour Vision

We check colour vision firstly in childhood to establish if there is an inherited problem and gain a baseline for future reference. Some colour deficiencies that occur later in life can be caused by illness, accident or poisoning. Colour vision is easy to check. The test is performed under daylight lighting conditions in the consulting room. There are several variations of colour vision testing, some requested for particular occupations.

Colour vision deficiency is commonly known as colour blindness. Real colour blindness when people see things only in greyscale is very rare. Most people with colour vision problems have an inherited red-green colour deficiency which leads to confusion of colours in that spectrum. Due to its inheritance pattern it is most common in men. Approximately 8% of men and 1% of women are colour deficient.  There are other types of colour deficiency that can affect other colour groups as well. Red, green and blue cone cells at the back of our eyes detect colour variations. In colour deficient eyes one or more type of the cones may be absent or deficient therefore affecting the ability to perceive certain colours.

Binocular vision

Is the ability of the two eyes to work as a pair. Binocular vision allows us to perceive depth and maintain a single image i.e. avoiding double vision. Binocular vision problems can often be subtle and lead to signs of visual stress such as:

  • Print jumping as you read
  • Difficulty focusing on individual words or letters.
  • Diplopia (double vision)
  • Tired eyes when performing visual tasks
  • Strabismus (squint)

At every eye examination your binocular visual balance will be assessed, to ensure you are getting the most comfortable vision possible, eliminating signs of visual stress. If a binocular vision problem is identified there are many methods we can use to help alleviate symptoms including using prismatic correction in spectacle lenses and eye exercises.

Binocular vision problems may be present from childhood or develop later in life. Certain conditions may lead to sudden binocular vision problems, these include diabetes, hypertension and nerve palsies.

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