Eye Test

[buffymad]

Has anyone been for an eye test lately? If so, did you still have to wear a mask/face covering? I’ve been told (Boots Opticians) I’d have to, but know my glasses steam up when wearing a mask so the test wouldn’t give a true result (or I’d have to keep wiping everything down every few seconds). I did mention this but was pretty much told tough luck! Just wondered if all opticians were the same?

[alavahalf]

You don't wear your glasses when having your eyes tested!

[Barsel]

I went for an eye test yesterday at Specsavers and yes you have to keep your mask on, so when she was saying is 1 better than 2, I was saying I've no idea because they're too steamed up.Optician was constantly wiping the lenses, twas a pain in the backside.

[Vagus]

Other half went to a small ish chain of opticians.
Both he and the optician started off with masks on, and some of the tests were ok with masks on.
However, the bit where you wear a frame and they slot different lenses in became almost unworkable because of steaming up.
The optician told other half, if he was comfortable with it, to remove his mask, which he did. Optician kept hers on all the time.

[Barsel]

Vagus I wasn't given the choice at Specsavers.

[Canary42]

If the lenses are steaming up then the masks (like most being marketed by unscrupulous traders) are ineffective since your breath is not going through the mask but escaping through the gap at the side of your nose.

[Vagus]

This wasn’t specsavers Barsel, it’s a small ish local chain.

[Old_Geezer]

My frames have broken (again) but I'm using tape to hold them together until this mask nonsense is over. Will have eye test then.

[barry1010]

Try using surgical tape to secure the top of the mask to your face and nose just for the time you are having your eyes tested. That should stop your lenses fogging

[Barsel]

Vagus, yes I saw that. Perhaps they decide for themselves at the different opticians.

[Barsel]

Old_Geezer when I was at Specsavers yesterday , I had to queue outside. There were 2 people in front of me who had just brought their specs to be mended. They weren't allowed inside the shop, but someone took their glasses off them, went and repaired them, then gave them back, so they only waited about 10mins.

[Vagus]

I would imagine, although I don’t know, that perhaps Boots, Specsavers and the like, have a set of rules which their opticians have to abide by, whereas the smaller more independent ones can make their own decisions based on what’s in front of them.
Other half took his new prescription to Asda opticians, after ringing them and making an appointment, to choose new frames. He said he was very confident in Asda’s procedure.

[Purist]

I had one a boots a few weeks ago, If you arrive too early they ask you to come back within 10 mins of your appointment time, You do wear a mask for the eye test but you don't wear your glasses for most of the test. It wasn't much different to a normal pre covid eye test bar them assigning you a seat in the waiting room and wearing a mask

[Gill1941]

I don't understand most of these posts. I have been wearing glasses now for over 70 years and have never had my eyes tested with them on. It defeats the object of the exercise!
I had my eyes tested last about 6 weeks ago and I took mask off occasionally but optician kept his on.

[bobbinwales]

Have you tried washing them with soapy water first?? Works for me, same principal as stopping bathroom mirrors steaming.
Canary, surely are breath has to come out of the mask somwhere or we couldn't breath out?

[bobbinwales]

A see what you mean but even with a sealed nose bridge whatsit the hot air that comes through the mask would rise and make are glasses steam (if not treated)

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks Barsel. Mine aren't so mendable.

I've complained before than nearly all the frames my optician has are this idiotic design with springs in the connection, from front to sides. They always go at some point, they're unfit for purpose.

The optician claims it's only me that has the issue so it must be my fault but clearly it's not. I just wear them, like everyone else. The evidence is that claims for that is specifically left off the warranty, which is one heck of a confession !

I had to fight for it to be fixed free last time already, and got a new replacement frame.

This time the thing went again, so I taped them up. Then found my previous pair, which wasn't so very different lenswise, so I used them, and blow me, before long one of it's springs went too. So I used them taped for a while before going back to the taped newer pair.

To fix them they send them away for ages to be soldered or welded or something. They never manage to put it back with a spring. So best I wait and get a new lot when things settle down. Fed up with them, in my day they didn't add a weak link spring to go wrong.

[Vagus]

I don’t think anyone has mentioned actually wearing their own glasses, unless I’ve missed it.
It’s about wearing the frame thing the optician uses to slot different lenses in to determine how best you can see.
At least that’s how I’m interpreting it.

[Old_Geezer]

I've had tests where the optician's frames were used, but I've also had them where you wear your own glasses and they check for difference to see if the change is big enough to be worth replacing.

[bednobs]

you DO have to wear their glasses though don't you - where they put the lenses in and out and say "is it clearer like this …. or like this"

[Gill1941]

Bednobs, that was many years ago now you rest your chin on a ledge and look at a screen to tell them which is clearer and to read the letters out.