Regular eye examinations are important for your eye health and vision. As well as checking your vision, we also look for signs of eye disease. Many common eye conditions show no obvious symptoms in their early stages and your vision could be irreversibly damaged if they are not spotted and treated in time. Glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy are the main causes of vision loss in the UK, and as you get older you become more at risk.

What to expect

At Petts Wood Eyecare a standard eye exam takes around 20-30 minutes. As an independent opticians, we pride ourselves on treating each patient as an individual and your eye exam will be personalised to you. We’ll test your visual acuity (how well you can see) and perform several exams that check the overall health of your eyes including the pressure inside your eyes.

We also offer OCT scan and retinal photography as a separate assessment which can be done at the same time as your eye exam, lengthening the appointment time to around 30-40 minutes.

NHS eligibility

We offer both private and NHS eye exams. You are eligible for free NHS eye tests if you are aged under 16 or over 60 years of age, or 16-18 and in full-time education. There are several other criteria including if you are at risk of glaucoma or have diabetes, or if you receive certain benefits. Contact us if you aren’t sure whether you qualify or not.

How often should you have an eye exam?

Even if you think your eyes are fine and there’s no change in your vision, you need to have regular eye exams to make sure it stays that way. The recommendation is every 2 years for most adults. Children, people aged over 70, and those with diabetes or glaucoma, should have their eyes checked every year. Your optometrist will tell you if they think you need more regular eye exams.

Contact us to schedule an appointment

Request an Appointment Online or Call Us (01689 831726) to schedule an appointment or to learn more about how we help our patients.