FAQs

If you are an existing patient, then we will have all of your eye health data here on our system – so no, you do not need to bring anything with you to your eye test.

If you are a new patient and you have a valid prescription (one that is in-date from a valid practitioner), then you can bring this with you.  We can offer you new spectacles or contact lenses if your prescription is valid.  However, if your prescription is invalid or you do not have a copy, then we will need to carry out a full eye examination.

Free parking is available in the Morrisons Supermarket car park opposite the Opticians.

The following guidelines indicate how often you should have your eyes examined, however, more regular testing may be required for some individuals.  A qualified optician will advise if you need to be seen more frequently.

Patients under 16 – once a year
Patients 16 to 69 years – once every 2 years
Patients aged 70 and over – once a year
Diabetic or Glaucoma patients – once a year
Patients aged 40 and over AND who have a close relative with Glaucoma – once a year

Our recommendation is that you consider having your child’s eyes examined once they reach the age of 2, unless you suspect that your child may be struggling with their eye sight, in which case please bring them along to the practice as soon as you can.

The team at harwood Opticians aim to make eye tests for children as fun and engaging as possible.  (Please note, current covid-19 measures may effect how close we can interact with patients of all ages).

At harwood Opticians we provide a bespoke service tailored to each individual patient and so the exact length of an eye examination may vary slightly, however, a typical eye examination lasts up to 40 minutes.

Click here to view our services page where you can find out more about what is involved in an eye examination

Please note, current covid-19 measures mean that your examination may take up to one hour, as we take extra care to protect your health and that of our staff.

Free eye examinations or help towards the cost of spectacles is provided on the NHS to some patients.  To find out if you qualify for NHS support please check their website here.

The most common groups who do qualify are:

• children under 16
• children aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education
• those 60 or over
• anybody registered as partially sighted or blind
• patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
• anyone aged 40 or over and whose close relative has been diagnosed with glaucoma
• if you’ve been advised by a specialist that you’re at risk of glaucoma
• prisoners on leave from prison
• patients who receive certain social security benefits (also applies if your partner is the recipient)

In the past contact lenses were not suitable for everyone, however, improved technology now means that we are able to find a solution for most people.  So now everyone can benefit from seeing clearly during sport and other activities where spectacles are not ideal.

At harwood Opticians we recommend that you do keep a ‘spare’ pair of glasses (with an up to date prescription).  You never know, there maybe times when will be unable to wear contact lenses for one reason or another.

Don’t worry!  We can help.  At harwood Opticians we stock a wide range of contact lenses.  If we don’t have your specific brand in stock, we can usually source an appropriate alternative very quickly.  Call us on 01942 883377 to see what we can do.

There is no evidence that staring at a computer can cause permanent damage to the eyes. However, it can cause many undesirable symptoms. Such as, blurry vision, dry and itchy eyes, eyestrain and headaches. To help ease these symptoms, if you have a prescription, glasses with particular type of coatings such as an Anti-reflective coating or a Blue-Light Blocking coating certainly help too.

A Blue Light Blocking Filter helps to reduce fatigue and eyestrain when looking at screens at long periods of time, particularly in the dark. They do this by blocking or absorbing blue light from getting through, which is the wavelength of light responsible for keeping you awake at night.

If you are worried about your eyes, please call the practice as soon as you can on 01942 883377.  We will ask some relevant questions to find out how serious your condition might be and then invite you in for an eye examination or advise alternative action if necessary.

To book an appointment you can either; call the practice on 01942 883377, or use our online booking form by clicking here.