Is eye care free in Wales?
Under the Eye Health Examination Wales (EHEW) initiative you are entitled to have your eyes examined free of charge by a registered optometrist if you have an eye problem that occured suddenly (acutely) which you think requires urgent attention.
What is a Wex test?
An eye health examination is just that – an examination of the health of your eyes. The optometrist will carefully examine your eyes to see if anything is wrong. The tests and equipment they use will depend on what you tell them and what they find.
What is EHEW?
The Eye Health Examination Wales (EHEW) is part of the Wales Eye Care Service (WECS). WECS is inclusive of the EHEW, Low Vision Service Wales (LVSW) and the Diabetic Eye Screening Wales (DESW) service.
Can you see an optician in an emergency?
If you have an eye problem, you can make an emergency appointment with an Optician (also known as an Optometrist). These appointments are provided free by the NHS and will ensure you receive the correct specialist care as soon as possible.
Who gets a free eye test in Wales?
Currently, free eye tests are available in Wales for children under 18, those who are over 60 and patients who suffer from glaucoma or diabetes. Optometry Wales said it was important to have eyes checked by an optometrist as they look for high blood pressure, diabetes and diseases which online tests cannot pick up.
What is a full eye test?
An eye exam involves a series of tests to evaluate your vision and check for eye diseases. Your eye doctor is likely to use various instruments, shine bright lights at your eyes and request that you look through an array of lenses. Each test during an eye exam evaluates a different aspect of your vision or eye health.
What eye tests can opticians do?
They examine the internal and external structure of your eyes to detect conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts. They may also test your ability to focus and coordinate your eyes and see depth and colours accurately.
What is a WECS test?
WECS is unique to Wales and offers eye examinations for patients with an acute eye problem needing urgent attention, or those at increased risk of eye disease or who would find losing their sight particularly difficult. All participating optometrists can refer directly to the hospital eye service.
Does NHS cover eye care?
The NHS will cover the full cost of an eye test with us for anyone who qualifies (funding doesn’t apply to everyone). In some cases, the NHS will also give an optical voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses. Find out if you qualify and what you need to do to get your free eye test.
Can you go to GP for eye problems?
Dr Blakeney explained: “GPs are not well placed to deal with eye problems, as they do not have the equipment to examine the eye thoroughly. If you have a serious problem that could be sight threatening, such as those below, if you have an eye casualty near you, it is best to go there.
Are eye tests free in Wales for over 60?
Currently, free eye tests are available in Wales for children under 18, those who are over 60 and patients who suffer from glaucoma or diabetes.
