EYE CARE

Some patients may be entitled to free NHS sight tests (dependent on age, receipt of certain benefits, and potential conditions such as glaucoma), but most people will have to pay. 

Eyesight tests are quite inexpensive and yet optometrists or ophthalmic opticians are highly trained, routinely screening patients for a number of possible health problems when undertaking tests. They are also able to correct a very wide range of eye conditions with spectacles or contact lenses. 

Lightweight plastic lenses have largely done away with thick unsightly glass lenses, and frames now often carry the names of leading fashion designers. Contact lens wearers, meanwhile, can now opt for soft lenses or disposable lenses for a very wide range of prescriptions. Lenses can even be bi-focal.  

An alternative to wearing glasses and contact lenses is laser eye surgery, a painless procedure that takes only a very short time to perform. Although not suitable for all conditions, laser eye surgery can be used to treat common conditions such as myopia (short sight) and astigmatism, which prevents the eye from focusing clearly. There are several different types of laser eye surgery and fees can vary, although generally the procedures are becoming less expensive as they become more popular. 

In some circumstances, where staff use computer screens as part of their regular work, their employer will meet the cost of routine eye tests, although not the cost of spectacles or lenses. 

Eye Surgery

Eye surgery, also known as ocular surgery, is surgery performed on the eye, typically by an ophthalmologist. Typical surgeries include: 

• Cataract surgery
• Glaucoma surgery
• Refractive surgery
• Corneal transplant
• Vertoretinal surgery
• Eye muscle surgery
• Oculoplastic surgery 

Why should I consider eye surgery in a Private Clinic/ Hospital if I can get it for free in an NHS facility?

One of the benefits of choosing a private clinic/hospital over the NHS is due to the reduced waiting times. You can also choose the consultant to perform your eye surgery. 

In most NHS facilities, the surgeon or registrar who has attended to your diagnosis may not be the same person who attends to your surgery, this is due to operation time and which surgeons are available that day. 

The latest and most sophisticated lenses are available to patients at the  leading private eye clinics/Hospitals. Many of these lenses are not provided by NHS hospitals. This enables the ophthalmologist to choose lenses best suited for your particular condition and/or needs. 

Private clinics/Hospitals are equipped with the latest computerised and technologically advanced equipment. This is of importance when it comes to precise diagnosis, determining the best treatment and most suitable outcome for your particular eye condition. 

Laser surgery is only available on the NHS for conditions that can lead to sight loss and it won’t be used if your eye condition can be corrected by wearing glasses or contact lenses.