Why Visit Loftus Optical?
A note from the owner on COVID-19: Lockdown Part 2 January to February (But Who Knows For Sure?!)
We are still open but with reduced eye testing days. If you need an eye test we are now open on Mondays and Wednesdays 9 to 5.
Our phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm.
We are also open at my other branch in Skelton, Tuesday 9-5 and Friday 9-5. For more information on the Skelton store please visit www.skeltonoptical.co.uk
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.
The other pieces of technology you will see are too varied to be named here but one is what is called an ‘autophoropter’. This is like a big pair of glasses that is suspended in front of your eyes and the Optician is able to change the lenses using a remote control from upto 2 metres away. We use what is known as ‘Wavefront’ technology to accurately take a prescription of your eyes.
This new technology is ideal if you have ever felt worried about giving the correct answer when the Optician asks questions! You can rest assured of the accuracy of the machine, it really is 21st Century equipment.
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?
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.