Opticians

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Optician is a general term that covers both optometrists and dispensing opticians. Optometrists carry out sight tests to check the quality of your vision and eye health. They look for signs of eye disease which may need treatment from a doctor or eye surgeon and prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses. Dispensing opticians fit glasses and contact lenses, but do not test eyes.

They can give you advice on types of lens, such as single-vision or bifocal, and help you to choose frames. It is recommended that you visit an optometrist every two years (or more frequently if advised). This is important because an eye examination can detect potentially blinding eye conditions.

Find your nearest optician from the NHS Choices website.

For more details on the Sussex Eye Hospital see Brighton Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust's website.

Free NHS funded sight tests if you are:

• are available for children under 16 years of age and those aged 16, 17 or under 19 in full-time education.
• aged 60 or over
• registered blind or partially sighted
• diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma, aged 40 or over and you are the parent, brother, sister, son or daughter of a person diagnosed with glaucoma, or you have been advised by an ophthalmologist that you are at risk of glaucoma
• eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher.

You also entitled to a free NHS sight test if:

• You receive Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (not contribution based).
• You receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
• You receive Income-based Employment and Support Allowance.
• You are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate.
• You are named on a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2).

Updated May 2010 by CS.