The picture that could save your life (Part of The That's Health Diabetes Series)

SPECSAVERS customers can now benefit from a potentially lifesaving health-assessment service, thanks to the installation of state-of-the-art fundus cameras in stores all over the UK.

What is a fundus camera? The fundus camera is actually a very clever and specialised microscope with an attached camera. It is designed to take a photograph of the interior surface of the eye, which is called the fundus, this is the only part of the human body where microcirculation of the blood can be observed directly.

Paul Carroll, director of professional services for Specsavers, says: ‘The fundus camera can play a vital role in the early diagnosis and management of many conditions, which can lead to blindness if not detected at an early stage. Some are potentially life-threatening.

"The fundus camera broadens the testing process to deliver a more in-depth health assessment for the customer. It also enables the patient to see the image, which helps them gain a greater understanding of the test. It is then retained as a record, to help monitor any changes over a prolonged period."

The free service is offered as part of an eye examination for customers aged over 40 or in cases where the optician or GP recommends it.

All Specsavers optometrists are trained to spot a range of health conditions as part of an eye examination. The use of the fundus camera broadens the testing process, enabling the detection of signs of glaucoma, diabetes, inflammatory disorders, age-related macular degeneration and vascular occlusions, as well as brain tumours, heart disease, high cholesterol, detached retinas and hypertension or high blood pressure. It is also used in retinal screening programmes.

Mr Carroll continues: "Our eyesight changes over time so it’s vital people come in for an eye examination at least once every two years. That’s even more important for higher risk groups, like the over 60s, diabetics and people with a family history of glaucoma."

To find your nearest store call 0800 068 0241 or visit www.specsavers.co.uk.

FACTFILE:
Specsavers was founded by Doug and Dame Mary Perkins in 1984 and is now the largest privately owned opticians in the world.

The couple still run the company, with their three children. Their son John is joint managing director
Specsavers has almost 1,600 stores throughout the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norw ay, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.

Annual turnover for the Specsavers Group was £1.36 billion for 2009/10 and is forecast to reach £1.55 billion in 2010/11.

Specsavers optical stores and hearing centres are owned and run by joint venture or franchise partners. Together, they offer both optical and hearing services under one roof.

Specsavers employs over 26,000 members of staff.

Specsavers was voted Britain’s most trusted brand of opticians for the tenth year running by the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands survey 2010.
More than one in three people who wear glasses in the UK buy them from Specsavers  – 9,700,000 glasses were exported from the warehouse to stores in 2009.

Specsavers was ranked No 1 for both eye tests and glasses in the UK.


Specsavers is the largest retail provider of home delivery contact lenses in Europe and one of the top two retail suppliers of continuous wear lenses in the world.

Specsavers is now the largest retail dispenser of digital hearing aids in the UK and offers a hearing service from more than 400 locations.

Specsavers supports numerous optical and hearing charities, including Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. During its three-year support for Diabetes UK it raised more than £250,000 to fund various projects.

Since 2003 over a quarter of a million glasses have been collected and recycled by Specsavers stores for Vision Aid Overseas, for use in developing countries. Specsavers has raised over £370,000 for the charity since 2006, with almost £245,000 going towards its work in Zambia.

Which? report: Independent opticians better trusted with UK’s eye care

Independent opticians are a safer place for people to have their eyes tested and get new glasses – as claimed in a new Which? report.

Richard Pakey,a self-styled champion of the UK’s 3,000 independent opticians, has welcomed the consumer report.

In a number of tests, researchers got a higher standard of eye test from independents than they did at the big chains.

Richard is the founder of specialist optical growth company Independent Practice Growth UK and himself a dispensing optician.

He said: “This clearly shows smaller opticians can offer higher standards of eye healthcare.

“That’s not a big surprise. When you use an independent optician, you are highly likely to be dealing with a business that is being run by the owner.

“When someone’s name is above the door there is a higher level of pride in the work that is done. I know hundreds of independent opticians, and most take personal responsibility for the quality of eye healthcare in the practice.”

He added: “That’s different from the big chains, where you typically deal with different employees at every visit, who just want to process you quickly to hit targets.

“Is that really how we want eye healthcare to be in this country? Or do we want people to build up long-term healthcare relationships with experts who own the businesses they are dealing with?”

Richard pointed out that a visit to the opticians isn’t just about identifying and correcting vision problems.

Eye tests can also detect diseases such as glaucoma, diabetes and high blood pressure.

He believes that the free eye tests and 2 for 1 glasses deals advertised by the chains should be banned, as they make people devalue the importance of regular eye tests.

Richard said: “When you regularly visit a trusted independent optician who knows your history you will actually see much better value for money with more thorough eye exams, more time to ask questions and generally a higher level of care.”

Richard Pakey owns two independent opticians practices in Hertfordshire & Essex.

He founded Independent Practice Growth UK to help other practice owners fight back against the multiples and cheap glasses websites.

Richard’s first book “It’s Time to Fight Back” was published in February 2011.

(EDITOR: Banned? What? Like in a communist society with no freedom of choice? From that remark Richard could be seen as wanting to go back to the bad old days when we wearers of glasses had no choice but to visit the only optician in our town, no matter how good or how bad he was, or how expensive.

Whilst there are horror stories about some large chains -for example, there is one who offers a 60 minute service that in reality takes three weeks, yet you are still charged a premium price for the non-existent 60 minute service!- there are also plenty of horror stories about independent opticians who ruin expensive frames because they decide to repair them with non-standard parts on the basis of: "that will do, they'll never know I did it"  or who have over-charged someone by 300% for what was in reality a fairly cheap pair of frames. And Specsavers, although apparently a national chain is, in reality, hundreds of local opticians all working as part of the Specsavers brand.)

Specsavers, a quick, efficient service

Specsavers offers a quick, efficient service that provides a happy marriage between technology and good, old-fashioned values of customer service.

There's a free SMS reminder service that sends customers a message the day before the appointment reminding patients of not only the date but the time. Ideal for those of us who lead such busy lives that we rarely remember what day it is, let alone remember the date and time of an appointment with the optician!

The service is reasonably quick and the service fast and, in general, friendly. At all points we got the impression that they were asking all the right questions. And performing the right tests, not always the case with all opticians.

As with all Specsaver branches the prices are prominently displayed, so you know exactly what price you can expect to pay at all stages of the process. Incidentally, if you have a favourite frame, these can- usually- be re-glazed at £39. And their are usually special deals such as 2 for 1, etc.

The examination process is very thorough, including the pre-test and the eye test and examination itself. At all times and at all stages patients are treated professionally by professionals.

Retinal photographs are now taken as standard, this is -unlike with some other High Street opticians- included free of charge.

There is a nice range of frames available, though I got the impression that larger branches might have better ranges, though I am sure staff will do their best to ensure you are happy. Frames available range from the very basic to some fairly nice designer frames.

One disappointment was that the facility to allow patients to check out how they looked in a new frame wasn't working due to a fault. Perhaps it would make sense to have a digital camera available for such an eventuality?

We would like to thank Telford Specsavers for their assistance in researching this article.

Specsavers. Saves you time, saves you money

A while ago a workmate was complaining about her visit to a well-known chain of opticians. It seems -though they unhelpfully forgot to mention this to her when she paid up front for her spectacles, they no longer offered  the one hour service that they boast about in their adverts.

In point of fact in the end it took them the best part of two weeks to have her glasses made. And even then, somehow,  they had managed to fit the lenses the wrong way round!

I looked at her and said: "How much did that lost cost you?" When she told me I said: "You should have gone to Specsavers! Like I did!"

She was shocked that my really very funky and high quality designer frames were from Specsavers. But they were. She was also somewhat put out by the price I paid. Only a fraction of what she had paid for, in my opinion, an inferior service.

My trip to Specsavers in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, was an eye-opener. (Sorry!) But it really was. The eye-test was one of the most thorough I have had in many years and the staff and the optician clearly all knew their jobs inside out. The optician was  professional and very careful in what he did. I knew my eyes were in good, capable hands.

 

They also provide a free text service when the day before your appointment telling you the date and time of your appointment. Very handy, especially as I had got the right day but the wrong time firmly fixed in my head!

The employee who helped me with the frames was also very good. She was able to point out that I was able to get a pair of sunglasses included in the price. And that included some rather snazzy Animal frames that I liked the look of!

The glasses were ready for collection in a little over a week and the fitting service was excellent.
All the way through the process I knew exactly what price I would be paying as it is always in front of you. Literally speaking, that is. Specsavers make a point of ensuring there's no room for doubt. No room for sudden price rises after the deal is done. Specsavers (unlike some opticians) don't work that way. You will always know the price you are to pay. And it is substantially less than other large opticians.

Prices can vary from budget options for about £30, Two for one offers from £69. If you want to go for designer frames, they start at £99. Varifocal lenses do not cost extra. They also offer contact lenses and some have hearing aid centres attached, too.