Specsavers Opticians and Audiologists - Harpenden

Yes, we want you to be completely happy with your purchase at Specsavers. If you have any concerns within three months of the date of purchase, we'll put it right. No quibble, no fuss. If your purchase was made in-store, simply return it to the store you bought it from where our colleagues will be happy to help. You can find your nearest store at specsavers.co.uk/stores. If your purchase was online you can find our full returns policy in our Legal Policy section at specsavers.co.uk/legal/terms-of-purchase If you have any other questions, you can find out how to contact us at specsavers.co.uk/news-and-information/customer-care

If your purchase was made in-store simply return to the store you bought it from where our colleagues will be happy to help. You can find your nearest store at specsavers.co.uk/stores If your purchase was online you can find our full replacement and returns policy at specsavers.co.uk/legal/terms-of-purchase

Hearing tests at Specsavers are free. If you think you're having difficulties with your hearing you can use our free online screener at specsavers.co.uk/hearing/free-online-hearing-test or find your local store to book a hearing test at specsavers.co.uk/hearing/stores

Yes, you can amend your booking either from the booking confirmation email or the confirmation page that you get immediately after your booking.

Yes, you’ll be able to get this service in most of our stores. You can find out more about the service and where it’s offered at https://www.specsavers.co.uk/earwax/earwax-removal or just give your local audiologist a call to find out if it’s available near you.

There are tests that can be used on infants and preschool children who cannot read. If you have any concerns about your child's vision, you should find a local optician who will test their vision. However, if you have no concerns it's perhaps better to wait until your child is a little older - say around three and a half years - before taking them for a full eye examination. Even if your child's vision seems good, it's worth taking them for a full sight test at a qualified optician when they reach school age, just to make sure that there aren't any issues with their vision that are likely to affect their early school years.

The best thing to do is talk to your GP. They’ll be able to refer them to a specialist paediatric hearing centre for some tests, where audiologists are very experienced in dealing with young children. The most common hearing tests for young children are called play audiometry and visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA) – they’re great fun for children. The team at the centre will explain exactly how these tests work.

It depends on the patient, but a young, healthy person with no apparent problems should take around 20 minutes.

There’s no need to tell the DVLA if you need glasses for driving. But when you apply for a driving licence, you’ll need to state that you wear glasses when driving. Your licence will then feature the 01 code on the back.

Varifocal lenses allow you to see at any distance, because they have different sections for viewing close up and far away and everything in between. So whether you’re driving, using a computer, shopping or reading, you can wear one pair of varifocals to accommodate all your vision needs. They’re typically for people over 40 who need more help focusing on near objects. This is due to presbyopia, a normal part of ageing that means the eye’s lens begins to find it harder to focus on close objects.

As the names suggests, multifocal lenses allow you to have more than one prescription built into the lens, so you only need one pair of glasses for multiple uses. There are several kinds, including bifocal lenses, varifocal or progressive lenses, and occupational lenses.

Firstly, don’t rub your eye. Your eyes will water naturally to try and push it out, but try using some eye drops too to help bathe the eye. If it doesn’t come out with the excess water from that, then seek out medical help (in casualty) as soon as possible, especially if the object can’t be seen. Try to keep the affected eye shut until you can be seen.

We've got a wide range of contact lenses to suit your prescription and lifestyle – from daily disposables from just 50p* per day and monthly reusable lenses. (*prices subject to change)

Prices can vary for reusable contact lenses depending on your prescription, they start from as little as £5* per month when joining easycare, your healthcare professional will recommend the best choice for your vision and lifestyle needs. (*prices subject to change)

Your optician will provide you with a timetable for gradually increasing the length of time you can wear your lenses, starting with a few hours each day. It can take up to a fortnight to reach maximum wear time with gas permeable lenses, but it's usually much quicker for soft lenses.

They float on a thin film of tears on the cornea (the transparent front portion of the eye). Contact lenses can correct refractive errors such as myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism (when your cornea is curved irregularly), and presbyopia (an age-related reading issue).

To check if you have had an eye test in the last two years to ensure you are getting the most out of your lenses Discussion on types of contact lenses options available to you Check the front surface of your eyes to make sure there is nothing stopping you from using contact lenses The optician will then check if the contact lenses fit well, allow clear vision and are comfortable If everything is fine with your contact lenses you are then handed over to an optical advisor

Wash and dry your hands Look straight into the mirror, tilt your head down slightly and pull your lower eyelid down. Using your finger move the lens down onto the white of your eye and then gently pinch it out. Repeat on the other side

Wash and dry your hands. Open the foil (for daily disposables) or case lid (for reusable lenses), and scoop your lens out using your index finger. Check the lens looks okay - it should be a bowl shape. If it has a lip it means it’s inside out. Before you put it on, hold it up and check for any tears or bits of debris. If it’s dirty then use some fresh solution to clean it, but if it’s damaged you’ll have to throw it away. The easiest way to insert your lens is to place it on the tip of your index finger and with your free hand, pull the top eyelid up – this will help you to stop your blinking reaction. Pull your bottom eyelid down and bring the lens towards the centre of your eye. You won’t have to press it onto your eye – it will go into place on its own. Once the lens is on, move your eyes from side to side and then close them both. This gets rid of any air bubbles trapped under the lens and makes sure it’s in the right position. Then just repeat on the other eye.

Most people can wear contact lenses. Today's contact lenses are made from high tech materials and are suitable for most lifestyles and prescriptions. If you haven't worn lenses before, please consult your optician.

You can buy contact lenses from us either in store or online, but first things first: do you have a contact lens prescription? It's not the same as the prescription for your glasses, so you need to make sure you have an up to date one before you can buy any lenses.

Small children are sometimes prescribed contact lenses for medical reasons, but generally, children must be old enough and sensible enough to handle contact lenses and care for them properly with minimal supervision.

Firstly make sure that the lens is still in your eye. Your eye may still feel that a lens is present if it is irritated, but it may have already fallen out. If the lens is still at the centre of your eye, with clean hands, try sliding it down towards the bottom of your eye and gently but firmly pinch it from the edges inwards. If the lens seems stuck, then place a few drops of sterile saline solution, lubricating eye drops (specifically formulated for contact lenses) or All-in-One contact lens solution into your eye before trying to remove it again. Sometimes lenses can become stuck under your top eyelid. Looking straight ahead in the mirror, tilt your head back slightly and elevate your top lid as far as possible to determine if the lens is there, try sliding it down then pinching it out. If you are still struggling, see your optician as soon as possible.

Not sure which face shape you have? Try our new in-store technology, Frame Styler, which uses facial analysis to scan your face and recommends the best frames for you based on your face shape. Or you can have a go now with our new online try-on tool.

If you don’t have time to try online now, you can pop in store to use our Frame Styler app. It works by using facial analysis to scan your face shape and features, then it identifies styles and colours from our ranges that would look good on you, from discreet to statement frames. Frame Styler is used as part of your normal eye appointment. Or you can just pop in and ask to try it out.

Put simply, polarised sunglasses are designed to reduce glare from light-reflecting surfaces like water, glass or snow – as well as protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Standard sunglasses will protect your eyes from bright light, and in most cases, offer UV protection — but they aren’t always able to reduce glare. Polarised sunglasses can look exactly the same as standard sunglasses, but their lenses feature a polarising film which changes the way light reaches your eyes.

If you look on the inside of your glasses, you’ll find a number that looks like: 52 18 135. This information shows you the size of your glasses; the lens diameter, the bridge width and the side length, all measured in millimetres.

Ever struggled to find the perfect pair of prescription sunglasses? Then you'll be pleased to hear that you can turn almost all of our glasses frames into prescription sunglasses – all we do is add a sun tint with UV or polarising lenses. So you can get your own pair of customised prescription sunglasses.

If you notice a scratch on your lenses, or any damage to your glasses or sunglasses, your optician can advise you on the best solution for you. In store, we can use a specialist lens cleaning spray to identify whether they’re scratched, or whether something may have got stuck onto the lens surface.

When buying your glasses, you can also ask the optician about any extra lens treatments that can help keep your glasses looking spic and span. We include a scratch-resistant treatment on all our glasses as standard, but an UltraClear SuperClean lens treatment is also a good option if you’re really worried about scratches or keeping your glasses clean.

While blue light blocking glasses are effective at reducing the amount of blue light that enter the eyes, there is no current research to suggest that this can improve or protect the health of your eyes. Put simply, there is no scientifically-proven benefit of wearing blue light blocking glasses for your eye health.

Difficulty hearing Sensation of fullness in the ear Itchiness in the ear A ringing sound (tinnitus) Discharge from the ear Dizziness or vertigo Earache or pain Coughing These symptoms should go away once the earwax has been removed.

Hearing loss is the most obvious sign that you may need to have wax removed from your ear. There are a few other slow-growing signs that you can look out for, especially if you have a history of compacted earwax. Ear pain Usually resulting purely from pressure on the ear canal, if the wax has been pushed deep into the ear, the pain may come from direct pressure on the eardrum as well. Cough This is actually caused by the hard wax pressing a nerve called the vagus nerve which runs along the ear. The pressure can excite the nerve and make you cough despite your throat being clear. A ‘full’ ear If the hard wax is pressing equally around the ear canal, then it is experienced as a sensation of fullness inside the ear. Your ears are self-cleaning so you should be fine to just leave them to it. If you feel earwax is causing a problem, get in touch with your GP or Specsavers store to discuss treatment options.

Your ear canal regularly secretes earwax thanks to the sebaceous glands located in your outer ear. The movement of your neck and jaw massage these secretions along the ear canal, picking up debris like dirt and dead skin along the way. Once combined, this is what forms earwax as we know it. If there is a change in the consistency of secretions from your ear canal, this will naturally cause harder earwax to be formed. This is common as we get older. If there is an increase in the amount of debris in your ear, then this will also have a similar effect. Harder wax moves more slowly along the ear canal, making you more prone to a build-up. Medical conditions like eczema, which increase the amount of dead skin in the ear, can also cause excess earwax. Living or working in a dirty environment, such as construction, may increase the amount of debris mixing with earwax and again lead to blockages. There are a number of other factors that can cause compacted and hard earwax – these are just a few examples that can contribute to it.

Microsuction earwax removal uses a vacuum to gently remove any excess wax from your ears. It’s one of the most effective services for cleaning your ears and can be completed by one of our accredited Hearcare Professionals in store.

Ear syringing is a technique of removing earwax that involves pushing water through the ear canal to flush out the wax. Although it can be successful, it can have side effects and possible complications, especially if done incorrectly, causing ear infections or impacted earwax. Ear syringing is not a service that is provided by Specsavers.

Rest assured that our specially trained clinicians will use the safest method of wax removal to help you hear again. Your wax removal appointment will take around 30 mins. While we adjust to new social distancing guidance, it would be really helpful if you could attend your appointment alone. After asking a few questions to get a better understanding of the health of your ears, our clinician will examine your ear canals and ear drums by using an otoscope (magnifier with a light). They will record this information to help keep track of any changes in your ear over time. We’ll then talk you through the procedure and show you the equipment that will be used and explain how it works. You’ll need to sign a consent form before we remove any wax from your ears. Once you are happy to go ahead, our clinician will use a magnifier and suction tube to gently remove any wax that’s in your ear. After our clinician has performed the procedure, they will then check the health of your ears and record this information. If we are unsuccessful in removing any wax, we’ll advise you on your next steps.

No – we’d strongly advise against trying to remove impacted earwax at home as there’s a risk of causing more permanent damage to your ears in doing so. As a rule of thumb, don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.

You should avoid buying any at-home earwax removal kits without first getting some advice from an audiologist or pharmacist. They’ll be able to recommend the safest way to remove earwax.

Cotton buds can pose a lot of unnecessary risk to your ear health and are not ear cleaners – it can push the wax further into the ear canal and put pressure on, or even damage, your eardrum – so it’s best to avoid using them.

If your ear still feels blocked, get in touch with an audiologist or pharmacist. They might recommend another option to try or refer you on for further help.

Essentially, earwax is an efficient self-cleaning service for your ears, and helps to protect the sensitive ear canal from things like bacteria and debris that can cause infections. Produced naturally by glands in the ear canal, you’ll recognise earwax as any colour from yellow, to bright orange, to dark brown. Your body will normally produce enough earwax to maintain health on its own, but sometimes this wax can become hard and impacted, which can lead to problems like hearing loss, or discomfort.

Our ears are very efficient at cleaning themselves. Ironically, it’s usually when people try to clean their ears that impacted earwax is caused. Using things like cotton buds, your finger, or other objects to try and remove earwax can actually push it further into the ear – where it can build up and become impacted. It can also be caused by excessive earwax, which can simply happen when your body naturally produces more earwax than it needs, or if it becomes drier or stickier than normal. It’s when this excessive earwax builds up that it can become impacted. Other causes of impacted include: Wearing earplugs, earbud headphones and hearing aids Narrow or hairy ear canals Age – earwax becomes drier as we age Exposure to moisture causing the earwax to expand

For most people, it's advisable to have an eye test every two years, but it's best to attend earlier if any eye problems occur or if advised by your optometrist.

Sight tests, also known as eye examinations, are more than just tests of your vision. A comprehensive sight test includes a thorough examination of the front and back of the eye for any health problems, too. You might have certain tests - such as 'auto-refraction' (to provide the optician with a rough estimate of any spectacle prescription) and 'tonometry' (a measurement of the pressure inside the eye) before entering the consulting room. The optician will ask you questions about any problems you're having with your eyes or might have had in the past, and about any family history of eye problems (some eye problems can be hereditary). The vision test (known as the 'refraction') includes the use of a letter chart, with different lenses being placed in front of the eye while the optician uses further techniques to fine-tune the prescription. The prescription is the power of lens for the right and left eye which will correct the patient's vision. During the eye health check the optician checks the condition of the eye's various structures using an opthalmoscope and a number of other instruments such as a slit-lamp and a visual field analyser.

This test is known as the 'duochrome test'; it's used to estimate if you're short or long sighted. This 'red and green' test works on the principle that the wavelengths of red and green light are focused slightly differently by the eye, red being closer to the retina with short sight (i.e. clearer) and green focused closer to the retina in long sight.

Unfortunately as payment is taken at the point of order, we can't amend or cancel an order once it has been placed.

This term indicates that an individual has a visual acuity of 20/20. It's a term only used in North America - in Europe, 6/6 notation is used. These figures are based on letter charts which are used in the standard sight test, such as the Snellen chart. The top number refers to the distance at which the chart is viewed (20 feet or 6 metres) and the bottom number refers to the distance at which a person with ideal vision can see a letter clearly. So if you have 20/40 (or 6/12) vision then you'll just be able to see something from a distance of 20 feet that a person with perfect eyesight will be able to see from 40 feet.

Note any changes you might've seen since your last test and think of any questions you might have for your optician. Remember to bring your current glasses or contact lenses and note the names of any prescription drugs or medication you might be taking.

Yes, we can transfer your records to any Specsavers store to ensure your details are kept up to date. If you are wanting to use a different store, please let us know by providing your current store details, the store you are looking to visit and any dates if applicable here.

It's important to get a good fit because poor fitting glasses might actually affect the quality of your vision. For example, if you are short sighted and your glasses are further away from your eyes then they might seem weaker than they are. Or, if you are long sighted you may feel that your specs are too strong. In either of these cases, visit your optician and have your frames adjusted as soon as you can.

Your optician will discuss the results with you at the end of the examination and explain if any further tests are required. They'll also tell you if there's a change in prescription, if you need new spectacles or lenses or if they've found any problems.

There is no evidence to suggest that wearing glasses for a limited period actually alters or improves your eyesight. Short sightedness, or myopia, is caused by the shape of the eye - either the eyeball is slightly too long or the cornea (the clear covering of the front of the eye) is too steeply curved. Glasses and contact lenses are able to correct the refractive error but not the cause, but there are several methods which can "improve" your vision permanently which include refractive surgery. If you would prefer not to wear glasses, perhaps you should consider contact lenses. There are various lens types available which can be worn for varying lengths of time. At Specsavers, your local optician will be happy to advise you on the most appropriate contact lenses for your prescription and lifestyle and answer any of your other questions. For more information on our contact lenses, visit our online guide here.

The causes of retinitis pigmentosa aren't clearly understood, though there is some evidence that it is inherited which means it can affect other members of the patient's family. However there are a number of isolated cases with no genetic pattern and some cases are so mild they may go undetected.

The conjunctiva is a thin mucous membrane which covers the inner surface of the eyelids and extends over the surface of the sclera (the white of the eye).

This is an involuntary rapid tracking movement of the eyes. It usually affects both eyes, and is often exaggerated or stopped by looking in a particular direction. The eyes may move from side to side (horizontal nystagmus), up and down (vertical nystagmus), circular (rotatory nystagmus) or a combination of these. The most common types are motor and sensory nystagmus. Motor nystagmus is usually hereditary and present shortly after birth. Sensory nystagmus is an acquired condition usually beginning in infancy. If the underlying cause is known it may be treatable.

High blood sugar levels due to a lack of insulin from diabetes can cause eye problems over time, such as making your small blood vessels and capillaries leaky. In the eye, this can mean blood and fluid entering the retina and damaging the cells which detect light. In the long term, diabetes can lead to other eye problems including cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

The aqueous humour is a clear, watery fluid that fills your eye's anterior chamber. It carries nutrients for the lens and for part of the cornea, and contributes to the maintenance of the intraocular pressure. It leaves the eye through a drain or meshwork created by other cells where the iris meets the cornea.

The extraocular muscles are the muscles that control the movement of the eye.

The lens is a disc positioned behind the pupil, suspended by ligaments. It is transparent and convex on both sides - shaped a bit like a Smartie.

The macula is an oval area at the centre of the retina at the back of the eye, which contains the greatest concentration of cones (the area which produces our clearest, sharpest vision).

The retina is the innermost layer of the posterior chamber wall. It is a highly complex structure made up of several other layers.

Conjunctivitis is a really common condition, affecting one or both eyes, that’s caused by inflammation of the thin layer of tissue that covers the front of the eye and inner surfaces of the eyelid, called the conjunctiva. You may have also heard it referred to as pink or red eye.

Ophthalmologists are specialists who have undertaken medical and surgical training. They have experience in diagnosis and treatment (surgical and medical) of eye disease.

Redness occurs when the blood vessels in the white of the eye, the sclera, expand. If the redness occurs in small localised areas, or spots, this is probably due to an injury. If the whole of the sclera appears reddened this might be caused by infection, allergy, glaucoma or simply tiredness. Treatment for the red eye depends on what caused it in the first place, so if the redness doesn't resolve itself consult your optician ot GP as soon as possible. If you wear contact lenses and you suspect a mild redness in your eyes might be due to being in a smoky or dry environment, you can try eye drops for immediate relief. If this doesn't work or if the redness is more severe, remove your contact lenses immediately and contact your optician.

Eye strain/ asthenopia are terms which refer to a group of symptoms related to the experience of discomfort felt when viewing something, often for prolonged periods. Although often painful, eye strain doesn't lead to permanent eye damage. The symptoms of eye strain are varied and might include: Headaches Blurred vision Light sensitivity Red, watery eyes Painful or sore eyes Dry eyes Tired eyes Back and neck aches Muscle spasms Most, if not all, symptoms of eye strain are easily remedied, however if these symptoms become persistent or get worse, you should visit your optician as soon as possible.

There are various tests, but the most commonly used is the Ishihara test. In this test, the optician shows the patient a number of plates which are printed with different coloured dots of differing brightness, density and size, arranged so that the dots of similar colour form a figure (for example a number) among a background of dots in another colour. If a person has defective colour vision they'll be unable to identify some or all of the figures hidden in the dots depending upon what type of colour blindness they suffer from.

This is probably a pinguecula - a very common type of conjunctival degeneration which looks like a raised yellow/white deposit on the white of your eye nearest the nose. It's not usually painful, but it can be uncomfortable. If so, it's best to use lubricating eye drops to help, and possibly antihistamine eye drops as the allergy may cause more irritation. Pinguecula rarely need any treatment but can be removed or helped with steroid eye drops, for which you need to see an eye specialist. If it's painful, you may have an eye infection like conjunctivitis or the pinguecula itself may be infected and need medication - in this case, it's best to see your optician or GP as soon as possible.

If you have diabetes, you’re at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that damages the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye called the retina. This occurs because the retina at the back of the eye is supplied with blood by a delicate network of blood vessels. Diabetes can cause the blood vessels to become blocked or leak, meaning the retina can’t work properly because it is not receiving a good blood supply. Left undiagnosed and untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to complications resulting in sight loss. Thankfully, with ongoing diabetes management and regular screening, you can protect your vision and reduce the likelihood of these visual complications.

The eyeball contains a fluid called aqueous humour, which is constantly produced by the eye. Any excess fluid is drained from the eye through tiny channels and tubes. When the fluid cannot drain properly, pressure builds up in the eye. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. It often affects both eyes, usually to varying degrees. As most cases won’t have any symptoms, one of the best ways to detect glaucoma is during a routine eye test – that’s why it’s so important to have one regularly. Glaucoma typically develops when this increased pressure damages the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, and harms the nerve fibres from the retina, the light-sensitive nerve tissue that lines the back of the eye. In acute glaucoma cases this pressure rises rapidly to higher levels, even causing pain.

Dry eye syndrome (sometimes known as dry eye disease) is a common condition that happens when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or if the quality of your tears isn’t quite right. This doesn’t mean that you can’t cry and in some cases your eyes can water more. The function of the tears is to keep the front surface of the eye (the cornea) moist and healthy. So when the tear supply is reduced or of poor quality, your eyes can feel itchy and uncomfortable. Anyone can develop dry eye syndrome, but it’s more common in women and in people over 65.

Macular degeneration isn’t painful. You may not even notice you have the condition until you experience a loss of vision. AMD affects activities requiring detail, such as reading and writing. Dry AMD The more common of the two conditions, dry AMD affects your ability to see fine detail. You may find it difficult to read, use your computer, watch the television, drive, etc. Some people may not realise the change in vision, as it happens so slowly Wet AMD Wet AMD involves a sudden and sometimes dramatic decline in your central vision, usually in one eye. Typically, wet AMD develops in people who have already had dry AMD. It is very important that anyone who has unusual symptoms (such as straight lines appearing to be wavy or blurring of the central vision) contacts an optometrist as soon as possible.

A person with myopia or short sight can see objects close to them clearly, but not far away. Myopia is caused by the shape of the eye; either the eyeball is slightly too long or the cornea (the clear covering of the front of the eye) is too steeply curved. Myopia is corrected by spectacles or contact lenses with lenses which are 'minus' or concave in shape. So if you're short sighted, your prescription will have a minus lens power, e.g. -2.50D.

The axis number on your prescription tells your optician in which direction they must position any cylindrical power in your lenses (required for people with astigmatism). This number shows the orientation or angle in degrees from 1 to 180. The number 90 means vertical position and 180 horizontal. A higher number for the axis does not mean that your prescription is stronger - it simply describes the position of the astigmatism.