About NHS Sight Tests
GOS sight test funding only covers the detection of
signs of eye disease. Further investigation, and refinement
of a referral, using any advanced equipment, is not
funded by the GOS sight test fee.
A private eye examination provides a better standard
of investigation, with more sophisticated instrumentation,
& a much longer consultation time of between 40
& 60 minutes. All NHS patients are given the option
to pay a supplement to their NHS sight test fee to cover
the shortfall in funding, and opt for the longer, full
eye examination.
For those NHS patients that opt to have a basic NHS
sight test on detection of any eye disease, a patient
then has 3 management choices:
- Pay privately for further refinement & investigation,
looking into the severity, and possible prognosis
of the disease
- Decline further investigation, and ask to be referred
to the local hospital eye department via their GP
- Have further investigation, as funded by local
primary care funding schemes (such as the North Tyneside
diabetic eye screening service)
If you are entitled to an NHS funded "sight test",
we offer a very basic 20 minute appointment fully funded
by the NHS. (We recommend that all patients upgrade
and have a full 60 minute eye examination at least every
2 years)
This is a check of your current prescription, and VERY
BASIC screening for eye health
An NHS sight test is short, and cursory, and not recommended
for adults, who are more susceptible to eye disease
About Full Eye Examinations
At Querido & Davidson, we provide additional procedures
to private eye examination patients, as they pay almost
double the amount paid by the NHS for a basic sight
test. The duration of this examination is much longer
(up to 60 minutes), and the equipment used is also more
advanced. Until the funding issues are improved, we
are unable to offer equal service for unequal funding.
NHS patients are invited to upgrade to a full eye examination,
if they prefer, and pay the supplementary fee to match
the private eye examination fee.
The additional procedures we provide in a private eye
examination are to aid in the detection of early signs
of eye disease, peripheral retinal abnormalities, and
visual performance changes. A summary of additional
procedures is as follows:
- Pupil dilation
- Canon DGi Hi resolution retinal photography
- Automated visual field screening
- Digital slit lamp examination with image capture
of the anterior & posterior eye
- Detailed cataract investigation
- Detailed peripheral retina examination
- Binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy
- Contrast Sensitivity measurement where appropriate
- Goldmann tonometry where appropriate
- Sphygmomanometry where necessary
- Gonioscopy where necessary
- Tearscope assessment where necessary
- Colour Vision Screening where necessary
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