Specsavers Audiologists - Swanick Family Practice

There are two different types of eye examination – which one you have will depend on whether you wear your lenses or not. An eye examination is a check-up you have every couple of years to check your vision and the health of your eyes. A contact lens examination is an aftercare appointment to make sure your lenses are still right for you and that your eyes are still happy and healthy while wearing contact lenses. If you're having an eye examination, you'll need to remove your lenses about two hours before the appointment. If you're having a contact lens examination, you'll need to wear your contact lenses as usual so that your optician can check the fit of the lenses.

Yes – even if your vision’s fine, it’s worth having a regular check up with your optician. This is because an eye test checks all aspects of your eye health, not just how well you can see. Your eyes can be affected by a number of conditions which can be picked up early through an eye test, giving it less chance of affecting your vision later on. We recommend you see your optician for an eye test every two years, or more regularly if your optician advises it.

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.

It usually takes 30 minutes for a screening and one hour for a full test.

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.

Putting in and taking out contact lenses are new skills to learn, so like most things, it takes a little bit of practice to get right – but you’ll get the hang of it in no time. Your optician will show you how to put in your lenses, and if you ever get stuck, you can check out our handy tips and how-to videos on our website.

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.

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

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.