Eyes and vision

Arrange an eye test as soon as you can

• It is important to keep up to date with regular eye health checks. Make the most of your free annual eye test and remember to tell your optician if you’ve had a fall. If you have worn the same glasses for years, that doesn’t mean the lenses in your glasses are right for you now
• Don’t assume that if you can still read the newspaper or watch television that your eyesight is fine. This is not necessarily true. Changes can occur gradually over time, which you may not notice until there’s a significant deterioration
• Having your eyes checked regularly can help to detect:
  • age-related changes
  • eye conditions – such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration

Other points to note

• You can arrange for a home visit if you find it difficult to get to the opticians for health reasons. Phone the NHS inform helpline on 0800 22 44 88 for information on local services which may be able to provide an eye examination within your own home
• Tell your optician/optometrist if you know of any family history of eye conditions for example glaucoma
• Attend eye health checks even if you don’t see any changes in your vision. This is important for detecting new eye conditions and other health conditions
• Attend your routine eye health checks in conjunction with hospital appointments for Diabetic Screening. If you have diabetes it is important to continue to attend your routine eye health checks – they assist with detecting new eye conditions and other health conditions such as high blood pressure
• Ensure any medication for eye health is taken as prescribed and don’t stop taking medication without consulting with your GP
• Be aware that if you have dementia it may affect the way you perceive and process information from our eyes. This can affect vision in a number of ways. For example, judging the height and depth of stairs, steps and kerbs may be difficult

Tips if you wear glasses

• If you wear glasses clean them regularly, and put them on if you get up during the night
• Check your prescription for your glasses is up to date
• If you have problems with bifocals or varifocals ask your optician for advice. Glasses fitted with bifocal or varifocal lenses can make things appear closer than they really are and so can cause you to trip or lose your balance when you look down, particularly on stairs or stepping up or down on kerbs or steps

Further support

• NHS Low Income Scheme – if you receive certain benefits or are on a low income, you may also be entitled to help with the cost of new glasses through the NHS Low Income Scheme
• RNIB Scotland – offers information and advice to people living with sight loss. Their helpline 0303 123 9999 is open Monday to Friday 8.45 am – 5.30 pm
• For more information about looking after your eyes and vision, visit the NHS inform how to look after your vision page

Consider asking your optician for advice if you have had problems with your bifocals or varifocals.

Glasses fitted with bifocal or varifocal lenses can make things appear closer than they really are and so can cause you to trip or lose your balance when you look down, particularly on stairs or stepping up or down on kerbs or steps. This can increase your risk of falling.

Further support

• Phone the NHS inform helpline on 0800 22 44 88 for information on local services which may be able to provide an eye examination within your own home
• NHS Low Income Scheme – if you receive certain benefits or are on a low income, you may also be entitled to help with the cost of new glasses through the NHS Low Income Scheme
• RNIB Scotland – offers information and advice to people living with sight loss. Their helpline 0303 123 9999 is open Monday to Friday 8.45 am – 5.30 pm
• For more information about looking after your eyes and vision, visit the NHS inform How to look after your vision page