A home eye test in Blackpool is very similar to one you would have in store. If anything, it’s better! As your glasses can be measured to the exact distance you require them, e.g., watching Tv or on a computer.
Pre-Visit
When booking your free eye test at home in Blackpool, you will be asked for your relevant contact details, and we will confirm you meet the eligibility criteria. You will be given a date and a timeframe of when to expect the optician.
The day of your home visit eye test
The mobile optician in Blackpool will call you an hour before they’re due to arrive, making sure it is still convenient. When the optician arrives they will set up the equipment around you, ensuring you are comfortable, whether you have mobility issues or are bedbound. At the beginning of the optician’s home visit they will ask about your eye health history, giving them a good understanding of how best they can help you and your eyes. Then they will perform the eye test at home using specialised portable equipment.
Different tests performed during our opticians’ home visit
As the home visiting opticians equipment is portable, some of the equipment may seem slightly different to what you find in store. Eye testing at home is ideal for the elderly and those with mobility issues, offering comfort and convenience, without compromising on the quality of testing. As such, if you struggle to leave the house for any medical reason, it is best to contact a home optician. Blackpool is one of the many areas we cover.
The optometrist will use a trial frame and have all the different lenses to check your spectacle prescription as well as a portable letter chart which they’ll place accordingly. If the person having the eye test at home struggles with subjective
responses (clearer with 1 or 2), the optometrist will use a retinoscope to, allowing them to find a spectacle prescription by shining a light in the eye.
The latest handheld iCare tonometer is used to check the intra ocular pressure of the eyes. Along with a visual field test, which checks your peripheral vision, these tests can detect if you are at risk of developing glaucoma.
To look inside the eyes, the optometrist may have to use dilating eye drops during your eye test at home. For the elderly, the pupils can become very small thus dilating the pupils makes it easier for the optometrist to examine your eye health.
Your optician will explain the findings of your home eye test. If a referral to an alternative health setting is required, either GP or hospital, this will be explained and any questions will be answered.
Possible signs of vision problems
Like everything else, or eyes also age. This happens gradually and so we may not notice the subtle differences that occur over time, until they have advanced. It is important to look for signs of visual changes, so your eye health is maintained.This is where a home visit eye test can make a big difference to your eye sight and in turn your quality of life.
Signs of ageing eyes
Look out for these signs especially in older family members and friends.
- When you struggle to recognise family and friends
- Squinting when watching T.V or reading
- Requiring a brighter light for reading
- Losing balance or falling
Eye tests at home for the elderly are not just convenient, but crucial. If you recognise these symptoms in yourself or your loved ones, get in touch to arrange an appointment with our home optician. Blackpool residents can expect friendly service and diligent testing from our excellent team.
Cataracts
The most common eye condition we see are cataracts. They gradually progress and make the vision blurry or cloudy, with the constant feeling of needing to clean your glasses. Other symptoms include, colours being faded, so whites become yellow and struggling to see in dim light.
After assessing the eye health, the optometrist will let you know if you have cataracts and whether they are at a stage where a referral is required to improve your eyesight. Usually, surgical intervention is advised when the cataracts are affecting your quality of life and when a new prescription will not improve your sight. The optometrist can refer you to be seen at an eye clinic. In Blackpool this could be at Victoria hospital or CHEC.
AMD
Macular Degeneration is very common over 60s. It affects the central vision, so you may notice reading and writing becoming difficult. Straight lines appear wavy and you may struggle to recognise loved ones.
AMD can affect one or both eyes in different ways, so a persons balance and mobility could be affected. It is important if a loved one or someone you care for, are prone to falls you book a home eye test in Blackpool. The earlier AMD is seen, the earlier it can be treated and the better the visual outcome. Having a local home visiting optician in Blackpool means you can be seen promptly.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma can be a very slow progressive condition, affecting your peripheral vision. If someone you care for is prone to falls or unsteady on their feet, it is important you book a home visit with the local opticians. Blackpool and surrounding areas like Thornton-Cleveleys have a mature population, where ageing eye conditions are commonplace.
Choosing your glasses at home
Following on from your free eye test in Blackpool, if you would like new spectacles you can browse from over a hundred frames the optician will bring to you. After listening to your needs, the optician will explain the best possible option in regards to frame and lenses.
