Our Frequently Asked Questions should hopefully answer any queries you may have. But if you do have a question that isn’t covered here, please get in touch with us on [email protected], and we’ll be happy to help.
At Scrivens, we recommend having an OCT scan each time you have an eye test. Regular scans help your optometrist compare images from previous appointments and monitor changes in your eye health over time.
Learn what happens during a scan in our full guide to OCT scans.
To book your eye test with Scrivens, you can simply book online. Choose your nearest branch and select an available date and time that suits you. Alternatively, call or pop into your local branch. Book today.
Scrivens recommends that adults have their eyes tested every two years - even if they do not need glasses or have any known eye conditions. Our Optometrists may request to see you more regularly depending on your individual eye care needs.
Children aged 16 and under and adults over 70 should have their eyes tested once a year.
Regular eye tests help monitor changes in your vision and identify potential eye conditions before you notice symptoms.
If you’re due a check-up, book an eye test at your local Scrivens branch.
If glare from oncoming headlights makes driving at night uncomfortable, our driving lenses could help. Designed to reduce glare and support clearer vision in low-light conditions, they can also make it easier to shift focus between the road, your dashboard and your mirrors.
Book an eye test at your local Scrivens branch so your optometrist can check your vision and advise on suitable lenses for your needs.
Tired eyes when driving at night can be a sign of eye strain. Low light and glare from oncoming headlights can make it harder to see comfortably, particularly during the darker winter months.
If you regularly experience tired eyes behind the wheel, book an eye test at your local Scrivens branch. Your optometrist can check your vision and discuss whether an updated prescription or specialist driving lenses could help.
If tiredness or difficulty seeing affects your driving, stop somewhere safe and take a break.
You should continue using prescribed eye drops as directed. If you’re concerned about touching your face, wash and dry your hands thoroughly before applying them, and avoid touching your eye or eyelashes with the bottle tip.
Speak to your optometrist or prescribing clinician before stopping or changing prescribed eye drops. If you need advice on applying them, contact your local Scrivens branch.
Yes, you should make sure you have your eyes checked as frequently as your Optician recommends. People with diabetes are susceptible to certain eye conditions and your eye test will be able to spot if any of these develop. If you have diabetes all your eye tests will be free under the NHS.
Your eyes are vulnerable to harmful UV light, just like your skin. Wearing sunglasses will help you avoid any potential damage. Protecting your eyes from UV light can also slow the onset of cataracts.
If there has been a sudden deterioration in your vision, or you have experienced visual distortions, such as tunnel vision or flashing lights, then you should see your Optician or GP as soon as possible. It may not be anything to worry about but should be investigated just in case it is something more serious.
Visit your Optician at your earliest opportunity. They will be able to find out what’s wrong and recommend a solution, or refer you to your GP if necessary.
Here at Scrivens Opticians, we get asked many questions about eye health, but one question that pops up most frequently is: “how often should I get my eyes tested?” so we’ve put together a little information page to help answer this common question.
The short answer is every 2 years.
Even if you don’t need glasses it’s important to have your eyes checked every two years. You may not be suffering from any eye health problems at the moment, but a regular check-up can detect any underlying problems early on as well as any changes to your vision.
Conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma can all be detected with an eye test. If they are spotted earlier on they can be treated more effectively.
However, an eye test does much more than detect problems with vision; it can also detect medical problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes. In these cases, your optometrist will notice changes to the blood vessels at the back of your eyes and refer you to your GP if they find anything that may need addressing.
Optometrists also recommend that children under 16 have their eyes tested annually. This is to help diagnose problems (if any) early. The sooner problems are detected the greater the chance of developing optimal vision.
Your optometrist may recommend that you have eye tests more frequently, if for example, you have a history of eye problems. Optometrists also recommend that people over 70 years should have their eyes tested once a year.
To recap;
Children under 16 years of age should have their eyes tested once a year.
Adults should have their eyes tested once every two years.
Adults over 70 should have their eyes tested once a year.
For more information, read our guide to what happens during an eye test.
You can also explore our advice on looking after your eye health.
