FAQ’s

At Fairbairn Opticians we have the very latest technology which we offer to all of our patients as part of our Enhanced Eye Examination, a more detailed examination which helps early detection of sight-threatening conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and retinal detatchment.

We not only offer Daytona Optomap wide-view retinal imaging service but also Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) as well, which allows us to obtain a more in-depth image of the health of your eyes, this in turn can lead to early intervention and treatment in the prevention of vision loss.

We also use the latest digital lens measuring device (Visioffice X) so we can dispense the highest quality bespoke lenses for your new glasses to suit your every need.

We believe that your eye examination should be tailored to your own personal requirements. Therefore, we recommend the Enhanced Eye Examination, which last approximately 60 minutes and enables our expert optometrists to further investigate any concerns you may have regarding your vision. In addition to a standard eye examination this premium service includes a 3D Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) and an ultra-wide view Optomap eye scan.

A standard sight test will check your vision to provide you with a prescription as well as detecting any immediate signs of common eye disease, but it will not include any of the above scans.

Therefore, it won’t reveal the very first signs of conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration which, when treated at the earliest opportunity, can be slowed, halted or eradicated altogether.

As long as your prescription is valid and within the expiry date then you will not require another eye test. If you would like to try contact lenses and book a contact lens fitting appointment, you will need to have had an eye test within the last year.

Usually, children can be tested at Fairbairn Opticians from age 4. It’s important to have your children’s eyes checked regularly. Vision problems can affect learning and slow development of certain skills. The earlier a problem is detected the more chance there is of successful treatment.

Common signs that a child has a vision problem that requires corrective eyewear include:

• Consistently sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close
• Losing his or her place while reading
• Using a finger to follow along while reading
• Squinting
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Headaches
• Difficulty with balance and playing ball games.

Children’s eye examination costs at Fairbairn Opticians are covered by the NHS, for children who are under the age of 16. An NHS voucher which is issued after the eye examination can also cover the full cost of many of our frames and lenses.

You should have your eyes examined every two years, or more frequently if recommended by your optometrist, regardless of whether you wear glasses or contact lenses. Your eye examination is an important health check that can reveal many underlying health problems, as well as any changes in your vision. Detecting signs of common eye diseases such as glaucoma at the earliest opportunity means the progression of vision loss can be slowed or even halted. The technology we have allows us to keep detailed images of your eyes, so by visiting regularly we can compare and detect even the smallest changes in your eye health.

To find the widest choice of top-quality frames and lenses, whatever your budget, an established qualified optician is where you should be looking. At Fairbairn Opticians we hand select a wide range of frames and lenses to meet our standards. We have glasses which start at extremely competitive prices so it’s really not necessary to cut corners on quality, whether you are looking for value or luxury.

At Fairbairn Opticians we don’t advise that you buy glasses online. Every individual’s head, face and eye measurements are bespoke to them, which is why we offer a wide range of frames and lenses that are custom built for an individual’s own requirement.

There is a wide range of varifocals available, and they are not all the same. At Fairbairn Opticians use the most up-to-date lens technology which eliminates most of the distortion and limited field of vision problems which older designs still have. We use the latest lens technology and are able to personalise your varifocals to give you the most comfortable and natural vision possible.

The principle for choosing a pair of reading glasses is the same as for any pair of glasses – they should be made to your exact prescription and measurements to provide you with good quality, comfortable vision.

Ready-made reading glasses are basically magnifiers. They can be useful as an emergency backup pair. However, a lot of ready readers are poor quality lens and have the potential to cause headaches and eye strain.

Before wearing ready-made readers, you should first have an Enhanced Eye examination to ensure that your eyes are healthy.

There is no evidence that wearing glasses makes your eyesight worse. The majority of people will need to wear glasses as they get older, particularly if they are longsighted.

If you have become short-sighted it will tend to worsen with age whether you wear your glasses or not. When you get your first pair of glasses your vision is so much clearer and more comfortable. You can then be surprised when you remove your glasses that your vision is apparently worse without them than what you remember it being. In fact, your eyes have simply become accustomed to seeing more comfortably with glasses on.

At Fairbairn Opticians we have a wide range of contact lenses available from daily disposables to monthly lenses. If you are interested in contact lenses, the first step is to arrange a contact lens fitting to assess which is the best lens to correct your vision with optimum comfort in mind. (It is also important to have had an eye exam within the last 12 months before fitting contact lenses)