Question 1

What is Specsavers doing in reaction to Covid-19?

Accepted Answer

All stores are following advice on Coronavirus (Covid-19) (find out more at specsavers.co.uk) and are open as normal, please contact your nearest store if you require more information

Question 2

How much is an eye test?

Accepted Answer

The cost of a Specsavers eye test varies, but it's around £20-25. When you book an eye test, you can also book an additional Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) test.

In most stores, the cost of our hospital-grade OCT appointments is just £10 but in some Scottish stores, this may vary. If in doubt, you can call your local practice to check. (You can find contact details for your local branch at specsavers.co.uk/stores)

Question 3

Can I return products?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we want you to be completely happy with your purchase at Specsavers. If you have any concerns within 100 days 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

Question 4

What is your replacement policy?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

How much do hearing tests cost?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

I have booked an online appointment. Can I amend it online?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

I need earwax removed by microsuction. Do you provide this service?

Accepted Answer

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/hearing/earwax/earwax-removal or just give your local
audiologist a call to find out if it’s available near you.

Question 8

At what age should children first visit the optician?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

What should I do if I'm concerned about my young child's hearing?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

How long should an eye test take?

Accepted Answer

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

Someone older, perhaps with high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma or other ailments can take much longer.

Your optician will determine what clinical tests are needed to provide the correct information for new spectacles or contact lenses; if necessary, they might refer the patient for a medical opinion.

Question 11

Do I need to inform the DVLA if I need glasses for driving?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 12

What are varifocal lenses?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 13

What are multifocal lenses?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 14

I've got something in my eye, what should I do?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 15

Can I get contact lenses for my prescription?

Accepted Answer

Contact lenses cover a wide range of prescriptions, so if you thought your prescription was too complicated, or you need more than one vision type, there’s a good chance we can find an option for you.
You can find out more about contact lenses at https://www.specsavers.co.uk/contact-lenses/home, or just pop in to have a chat with our experts in store.

Question 16

How much are contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

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)

Question 17

How much are monthly contact lenses from Specsavers?

Accepted Answer

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)

Question 18

How long does it take to get used to using contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 19

How do contact lenses work?

Accepted Answer

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).

Question 20

What happens in a contact lens check?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 21

How to remove contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 22

How to put contact lenses in?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 23

Can I wear contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 24

Can you buy contact lenses in store?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 25

Can children wear contact lenses?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 26

I cannot get contact lenses out of my eye?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 27

Which glasses suit my face shape?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 28

What style of glasses suit me?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 29

What are polarised sunglasses?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 30

How to read sunglasses size?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 31

Can I get prescription sunglasses?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 32

Can I get my lens repaired at an opticians?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 33

How can I prevent scratches on my glasses and sunglasses?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 34

Do blue light glasses work?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 35

What are the symptoms of earwax?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 36

How do I know if I have excess earwax?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 37

Why do I have too much earwax?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 38

What is microsuction earwax removal?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 39

Is ear syringing different from microsuction?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 40

What should I expect at my earwax appointment?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 41

Can you remove impacted earwax at home?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 42

Are at-home earwax removal kits safe?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 43

Are cotton buds safe to use?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 44

What can I do if my ear still feels blocked?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 45

What is earwax?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 46

What causes earwax?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 47

How often should I have an eye test?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 48

What tests does the optician use in the sight test?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 49

What does the 'red and green' test tell the optician?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 50

How do I cancel an order?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 51

What does 20/20 vision mean?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 52

Do I have to do anything special before an eye exam?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 53

Can I use other Specsavers stores?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 54

My glasses don't seem to fit properly, does this matter?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 55

When will I know the results of my eye test?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 56

Will glasses improve my short sightedness, resulting in me not having to wear them as often?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 57

What is the cause of retinitis pigmentosa?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 58

What is the conjunctiva?

Accepted Answer

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).

Question 59

What is nystagmus?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 60

How does diabetes affect the eye?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 61

What is aqueous humour?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 62

What are extraocular muscles?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 63

What is the lens?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 64

What is the macula?

Accepted Answer

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).

Specsavers Opticians and Audiologists - South Shields

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