Frequently Asked Questions

• Please let us know when you call. We may be able to help you over the phone and if you need an appointment we can arrange a quiet time for you to come in. We are happy to wear face masks for the duration of your visit.

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Contact lenses are available in a wide range of prescriptions to suit most people. If you are wondering about whether we can get contact lenses in your prescription check with us today and we will be happy to advise you on your suitability.

Yes, find out more here.

There are now lots of contact lenses available that do correct for astigmatism. If you are wondering whether your prescription can be corrected with contact lenses ask one of our staff members, who will be happy to advise you.

If your eyes become irritated and uncomfortable, or you have an eye infection, you will need a pair of glasses to wear instead. Not having a pair of glasses will tempt you to wear your contact lenses, even when you shouldn’t and risk the health of your eyes.

Yes. Contact lens check-ups are designed to check the condition of the front surface of the eye that is in contact with the lens and to check the quality of your vision with your lenses in. A contact lens check-up doesn’t measure the health of the inner and outer parts of your eye, so it’s important to go for an eye test as well. The back of your eyes can be affected by a number of eye conditions and though they are uncommon, they might be picked up much earlier through a sight test rather than waiting for symptoms to occur.

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You will automatically receive a reminder from us when your next contact lens appointment is due.

If you are a patient of ours and we provided your contact lens specification then we can almost certainly help with replacing lost contact lenses. If you had your contact lens specification done elsewhere then we may still be able to help.

Most contact lenses are not designed for sleeping in, however some are. If you are unsure as to what you should or shouldn’t be doing with your contact lenses then please ask and we will be happy to advise you.

We would always advise you to use the contact lens solution that has been advised by your eye care practitioner; if you are considering changing solution please feel free to discuss this with us.

No, not by us. There may be other options available to you such as laser eye surgery. We would recommend that you get advice regarding this from someone who specialises in these forms of treatment.

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Symptoms that suggest your child may have visual problems are

• Blurred Vision for distance or close work ( such as reading or not being able to see the board at school)
• Headaches
• Double vision
• Screwing up their eyes to see distant or close objects
• Frequently closing one eye when reading, or looking into the distance
• Their eyes appear misaligned
• Problems identifying colours
• Signs of tension or stress when reading
• Following the text with a finger
• Words jumping or moving on the page
• Reading letters incorrectly or omitting letters
• Compensatory head posture

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No. You don’t have to get your test and glasses from the same optician, you can purchase your glasses from any optician although it is often more difficult to resolve any problems you may have with your glasses when prescribing and supply are separated.

We would always advise our patients to have a spare pair of glasses. Sometimes it can take a little time to fix or replace broken or lost spectacles so it is always a good idea to have a second pair as a backup option, or simply as an alternative look.

Use an alcohol free cleaning solution and a soft cloth. We do not recommend you use tissues.

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Yes. We can supply you with thinner lenses. Our highly qualified dispensing staff will advise you of the options available for your prescription.

Yes, you can bring your prescription to DW Roberts and we will be happy to supply your glasses.

Yes, find out more here.

Yes, find out more here.

Yes, find out more here.

Yes, find out more here.

We may be able to get hold of the frame ourselves even if we don’t stock it. It is always best to get your sight test, frame and lenses from the same optician. This ensures continuity of care. We are, however, happy to make up lenses to go in the frame you have found elsewhere providing that you can produce a receipt for it. However we cannot be responsible for the fit of the frame as it has been purchased without us assessing whether it is suitable for your requirements. The glazing would be done at your own risk as the frame would not be under any guarantee with us, so if there were any issues with it you would need to return to where you had purchased it.

You can give us a call or pop in to any of our practices.

We advise that you have an eye examination every 2 years. Regular sight tests can pick up early signs of changes and also detect some other health concerns such as diabetes and thyroid disease.

Find out if you qualify here.

You’re entitled to a free NHS sight test if you:

• are under 16
• are 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education
• are 60 or over
• are registered as partially sighted or blind
• have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
• are 40 or over and your mother, father, sibling or child has been diagnosed with glaucoma
• have been advised by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) that you’re at risk of glaucoma
• are a prisoner on leave from prison
• eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher – your optician can advise you about your entitlement

You also qualify for a free NHS sight test if you:

• get Income Support
• get Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• get Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• get tax credits and meet the criteria
• get Universal Credit and meet the criteria
• have a low income and are named on a valid NHS HC2 certificate for full help with health costs.

You may be entitled to a reduced cost sight test if you have a low income and are named on a valid NHS HC3 certificate for partial help with health costs.

You’re entitled to an optical voucher for help towards the cost of your glasses or contact lenses if you:

• are under 16
• are 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education
• are a prisoner on leave from prison
• are eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher – your optician can advise you about your entitlement

You also qualify for an optical voucher if you:

• get Income Support
• get Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• get Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• get tax credits and meet the criteria
• get Universal Credit and meet the criteria
• have a low income and are named on a valid NHS HC2 certificate for full help with health costs

You may be entitled to an optical voucher if you have a low income and are named on a valid NHS HC3 certificate for partial help with health costs.

DW Roberts offer students a 10% discount on frames and lenses.

The eye examination will take around 30 minutes.

The eye examination will start with a few questions to enable our Optometrist to tailor your sight test to your individual needs. A series of tests will be carried out:

• Vision Checks: a letter chart is used to investigate your level of vision.
• Refraction: a retinoscope will help determine your prescription.
• Ocular Eye Check: an ophthalmoscope or slit lamp will help examine the health of your eye.
• Pressure Check: a tonometer measures the pressure within the eye. This is usually done on patients over 40.
• Retinal Photography (there is an extra charge for this service): a highly magnified image of the back of the eye.

Find out more about Retinal Photographs here.

Absolutely, the diabetic screening will specifically look at the back of your eye to check for issues such as diabetic bleeds. A sight test will look at the overall health of your eye as well as checking your prescription for spectacles.

Possibly, find out more here.

Possibly, if your prescription is suitable we may be able to correct your vision with contact lenses or possibly with Ortho-K lenses.

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Sometimes it is possible to see you urgently, however, we do work on an appointment based system so there are not always appointments available at short notice. We will always try our best to see patients that are in need of an urgent appointment. If you cannot get in at your preferred branch we may be able to offer you an appointment at one of our other practices. Failing that we will always give you advice on what you should do if you cannot see an optometrist.

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Gift vouchers are available to purchase at any of our 5 practices.

Yes, find out more here.

Very occasionally, it may take some time to adapt to a new prescription. If this happens, please contact us to enable us to help you. Should any change be necessary then we will replace any lenses supplied by DW Roberts up to three months from the sight test.