Why Visit Loftus Optical?
A note from the owner on COVID-19
We are still open! If you need an eye test we are offering these on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. We also offer a home visit eye test service on Thursdays on request.
Our phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm. You can call us on 01287 644211.
We are also offering eye tests at my other branch in Skelton on Mondays and Fridays. To book in there please click here or call 01287 650655.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic I have invested in new eye testing equipment that allows you to have a state-of-the-art eye test and at the same time maintain social distancing with the Optician. How is this done?
With our new enhanced eye test, you now get a special scan done on the back your eyes, called the Optomap scan. The machine does a fast scan of your eyes and sends the images to a computer. This means the Optician does not have to get up close to your eyes to look inside. What’s more, is this machine can see further into your eyes than any other retinal camera in the world.
The Optomap scan can help save your vision by detecting early signs of eye disease. It is also a great general health check as it allows the Optician to look for conditions such as signs of diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancerous tumours.
Furthermore, we are now only seeing a limited number of people per day due to safety sterilising measures in place for COVID-19. We are providing 45 minutes for your examination.
The eye test will not take this long but this allows time for all the equipment to be wiped down and sterilised and it limits the number of patients in the Opticians so you can feel safe without the risk of close contact with anyone.
Do You Take Your Vision For Granted?
You only have one set of eyes to last you a lifetime. You need to choose your Optician wisely. At Loftus Optical you are treated as a human and to give you the attention your eyes deserve we do a very thorough health check on your eyes.
It’s not just a vision check, you get a thorough health examination on your eyes too. This is important even if you feel your vision is normal. A regular eye test is also a good general health check for your body as it can help detect high blood pressure, diabetes and even cancerous tumours as mentioned earlier.
If you lost your vision how much would you pay to get it back? A lot of people say their vision is priceless, that’s why I have invested in the latest eye care equipment. Not all opticians have the same equipment.
If all you care about is a “buy one get one free offer” then I would advise you to go to one of the big chains of Opticians. If you care more about the health of your eyes, you are in safe hands at my independent practice.
It’s all about the eye test experience. This begins not just we the Optician but with all of my highly trained staff.
And no matter which Optician you see, myself or one of my colleagues you will get the same high standard of eye health checks.
An Enhanced Eye Test
An eye test is not just an eye test. You can just get a very basic eye test offered ‘free’ in many Opticians but in life you get what you pay for!
At Loftus Optical we now only do an ‘Enhanced Eye Test’. This is includes many additional eye examinations to look after the health of your eyes as well as all the standard eye tests you would expect.
In a nutshell you are getting one of the most detailed eye tests you can ever get. Think of it as a very thorough MOT test for your eyes.
Another check that is included is the Optomap Scan…
What Is An Optomap Scan?
Optomap is a highly advanced device that takes a detailed and comprehensive image of the retina at the back of the eye. It takes the widest image possible compared to all other devices in the world. It’s completely safe, painless and takes seconds to get an image. It was designed by an engineer who’s son lost his sight because of a tear in the retina that couldn’t have been detected using existing technology.
How Does It Work?
The machine has a special safe, low powered light combined with an accurately curved mirror to look through your pupil and scan your retina to create a detailed image. This image is sent through to a computer where the optician can analyse the results. The amount of retina this scan can see and capture has simply not ever been possible before. Only a few Opticians in the country have invested in this technology. Not even James Cook Hospital has this!
What Is The Retina?
The retina is an extremely thin layer, inside the back of the eye, that senses the light entering your eye to form an image. It acts very similarly to the film in a camera in the way it captures the light. In many retinal diseases, you may not notice any changes until it is too late.
An eye test should always include an examination of the retina to check for problems and risks of blindness. The retina is the only place in your body where we can see live blood vessels, so many conditions that affect the blood supply, such as diabetes and high blood pressure may be seen in the retina.
What Do The Images Look Like?
How Much Is An Optomap Enhanced Eye Test?
If you are over 60 and entitled to an NHS eye test then this will cover a very basic sight test that does not include extra health checks such as the Optomap scan. My enhanced eye test upgrade is £30, including the Optomap.
The Optomap can reveal so much more about your eye health. Many people pay £30 or more to have an MOT done on their car, which at the end of the day, is a heap of metal. For £30, once a year, you can get a very detailed ‘MOT’ on your eyes.
Which is worth more to you, your car or your eyes? If you lost your car, yes it’s an inconvenience, but if you lost your vision it would be a living nightmare! Your vision is priceless.
If you are not willing to invest £30 on your eye health once a year or once every two years, then I would suggest you seek out an Optician who only offers free basic eye tests.
The cost of the equipment (over £50,000) and its maintenance is expensive. The enhanced eye test is something that I do need to charge for. You are not rushed, looking at the health of your eyes needs to be done carefully and it takes time if you want it doing properly.
If you pay privately, our enhanced eye test including the Optomap is £60 or £30 without the Optomap scan.
£30 or £60 may seem a lot, but don’t forget an eye test is something you only need once every year or once every 2 years. An eye test is not just about your vision, it’s also a very good health check to have done and can even save your life.
Many people spend more than £30 or £60 on cigarettes, alcohol, mobile phones, even bread and milk over the course of a year. So really it depends on your priorities.
If you don’t want to have access to this kind of technology and healthcare for your eyes then you are best going elsewhere.
This may seem harsh but I am passionate about looking after your vision and if you don’t care about it then I am not the Optician for you!
Can I Have A Copy Of My Images?
Of course, all of our membership patients get a copy sent to them. We can do this through email or with a printed copy.
Many of our patients join our membership plan, which starts from £7 per month and you get the Enhanced Eye Test as standard, as many times as required during the year.
For more information on the benefits of our membership please click here.
If you want to learn more about the Optomap technology, please click here.
Meet The Team
We are a friendly bunch, here to help you and your eyes. We are proud to be part of the local community and to be able to bring such high tech eye testing technology to your doorstep! We believe you can have one of the best eye tests in the world, right here in little old Loftus.