The Importance of Regular Sight Tests
Your eyes are your windows to the world, and just like any other part of your body, they need regular care. A comprehensive sight test is more than just checking if you need glasses—it’s an essential health check for your eyes and overall wellbeing.
1. Detect Vision Changes Early
Even small changes in your vision can impact daily activities, from reading and driving to using digital devices. Regular sight tests help detect these changes early, allowing you to correct your vision and maintain your quality of life.
2. Monitor Eye Health
Many eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration, develop gradually and without obvious symptoms. A thorough eye exam can detect these issues early, increasing the chances of effective treatment and preventing long-term damage.
3. Support Overall Health
Sight tests can reveal more than just eye problems. Conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can affect your eyes, and a routine exam may be the first indication of a broader health issue.
4. Update Your Prescription
Wearing the correct prescription ensures that your vision is sharp and reduces eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. Even if your vision seems fine, your prescription may need subtle adjustments over time.
5. Protect Your Future Vision
Regular eye exams are an investment in your future. By maintaining eye health and catching problems early, you’re helping preserve your vision for years to come.
An Optomap® using Optos® Daytona literally gives you a 200° field of view of your retina. This is massive compared to traditional retinal photography which only gives a 45° view.
To give you a perspective, the image shows the difference between the traditional retinal photography photo against the view made available by the Optomap® - The Optomap® image allows for a 5 times wider field of view and has the facility to take autofluorescence images; a cutting edge imaging technique allowing for early detection of retinal disease which may not be otherwise evident.
We pride ourselves on offering our patients the very best standards in eye care possible!
Common conditions a regular OCT scan can check for and monitor the progression for are:
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- Age-Related Macular Degeneration – the leading cause of blindness in the UK.
- Diabetes – with over 4 million people now diagnosed in the UK.
- Glaucoma – a condition causing damage to the optic nerve.
- Vitreous Detachments – a painless condition that can cause blindness.
- Macular Holes – a small hole in the part of the retina that can cause a loss in sharp and detailed central vision.
This ground-breaking piece of technology enables us to capture detailed 3D scans of the layers that make up the back of your eyes. These 3D images allow our optometrist to identify the slightest changes to the insides of your eyes with unprecedented precision and diagnose the first symptoms of vision-threatening conditions.
The technology also means we can keep a close eye on your visual health history, as we can compare previous scans to track changes to your eyes as they mature.
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What to Expect During Your Eye Test
Here’s a step-by-step guide to what happens when you come in for your eye exam at The Eye Studios.
1. Welcome & Pre-Test Checks
You’ll be greeted by our friendly team and asked a few questions about your vision, lifestyle, and medical history.
We will perform a few pre-test checks, such as:
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Measuring your current glasses prescription
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Checking your eye pressure (to screen for glaucoma)
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Testing your visual field (your peripheral vision)
These help us understand your eyes before the main examination begins.
2. Vision Testing
Next, our optometrist will check how clearly you can see using different lenses and charts — this determines if you need glasses or an updated prescription.
We’ll test:
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Distance vision (for driving or watching TV)
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Near vision (for reading or screen work)
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Intermediate vision (for everyday tasks)
If you already wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them along so we can compare your current prescription.
3. Eye Health Assessment
This is where we look at the health of your eyes in detail. Using a special light and microscope, our optometrist examines the front and back of your eyes — checking for early signs of:
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Dry eyes
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Cataracts
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Glaucoma
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Macular degeneration (AMD)
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Diabetic eye disease
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Retinal detachment
We perform additional advanced imaging such as:
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An OCT eye scan (3D scan of your retina)
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An Optos ultra-widefield image (a panoramic view of your retina)
These help us spot even the tiniest changes before they affect your vision.
4. Discussion & Results
Once your tests are complete, our optometrist will go through your results clearly and answer any questions.
You’ll find out:
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If your eyes are healthy
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Whether you need new glasses or contact lenses
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If any further tests or treatments are needed
We’ll also give you personalised advice on eye care, screen use, and how to protect your vision.
5. Choosing Glasses or Contact Lenses (if needed)
If you need new glasses, we will help you choose frames and lenses that suit your style, lifestyle, and budget.
Prefer contact lenses? We can guide you through your options and arrange a contact lens fitting.
How Long Does an Eye Exam Take?
A full eye test usually takes around 45 minutes. Advanced imaging such as OCT or Optos scans, can make your appointment take slightly longer — but it’s all designed to give you the most thorough and accurate assessment possible.
​Dry Eyes
Dry Eye Disease is a common condition affecting people of all ages. It occurs when your eyes do not make enough tears or the tears produced are of a poor quality therefore unable to keep the surface of the eye sufficiently lubricated.
The common symptoms of dry eye are itchiness, redness, and irritation, and sometimes even streaming eyes. It is a chronic and progressive disease so proper diagnosis and management are necessary to alleviate the symptoms.​
Dry Eye Assessments provide an in-depth examination of the tear film using specialist dyes to identify the cause of the dry eye symptoms, followed by a comprehensive treatment plan which could include drops, heat therapy, cleaning regimes, or even more specialist treatments like lid debridement, lacrimal drainage or punctum plugs. ​
Am I entitled to an NHS-funded eye test?
According to the NHS, if you fall under the following categories, you would be entitled to an NHS Eye Exam:
· Aged under 16
· Aged 16, 17 or 18 and are in full-time education
· Aged 60 or over
· Been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
· 40 or over, and your mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter has been diagnosed with glaucoma
· receive Income Support
·receive Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (not Contribution-based)
· receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
For a full list click here