Patient having eye exam done

Eye Examinations

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Eye Examinations

Our expertise is in the delivery of the most comprehensive and personal eyecare available to you as an individual. When you book an eye test with Urquharts at any of our practices in Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon, Ayr, Kilwinning, Stranraer, Saltcoats,  West Kilbride, Lanark, Eaglesham, Clarkston or Strathaven you can expect a service that is different to many other providers and one that will provide a reassuringly accurate assessment of your vision.

Optometrist carrying out eye exam

So, what makes us different?

40 Minute Appointment with an Industry Leading Optician

You won’t be rushed in and back out of our test room within 20 minutes and you won’t have anyone other than one of our Optometrists test any element of your vision

Relationships – Be cared for by the same Optician time and again!

At Urquharts we believe an important part of our eye examination is to get to know you, your eyes and your lifestyle. This is impossible if you see a different Optician every time you attend and so we ensure that our team are invested in our culture, that you are respected and valued, meaning that you can expect to see the same Optician on every visit.

It is about your overall eye health, not just your vision

Many people don’t book an eye test until the point that they feel their vision is changing. Our advice would be to get your eyes tested regularly, regardless of your vision. Your eyes can tell us a lot about other health conditions – many of which are unknown to you.

Technology – We use the latest and greatest!

Our Optometrists are industry leading in terms of their qualifications and therefore we believe passionately in matching this with our technology in the test room. You can expect our Opticians to use all of the latest techniques to assess your eye health, including the ability to assess a 3D image of your eye and the subsequent layers of the eye.

Relax, unwind and feel at home

All of our practices in Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon, Ayr, Kilwinning, Saltcoats, West Kilbride, Stranraer, Lanark, Eaglesham, Strathaven & Clarkston are designed to ensure a welcoming and friendly environment. But not only this, you’re made to feel at home and where you can escape the busyness of day to day life.

We’ve got the latest magazines to hand, music creating a chilled ambiance and we are as well known for our Cappuccinos and Lattés, as we are our expert eye care.

Premium Eye Examination

Our Premium Eye Examination is our most popular examination and is unique to Urquharts. It includes eye care services in addition to our NHS Eye Examination (See below for details) and is the Gold Standard for Eye Care in Ayrshire.

These additional services include OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) which produces a three dimensional image of the retina and optic nerve, meaning our opticians can look beneath the surface of your retina and better understand the very fine changes which can be indications of something unhealthy or abnormal. This more in depth diagnosis can highlight conditions before they become an issue, for example, Glaucoma, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Detachments and much more. We recommend this eye examination to all our patients. And Alistair tells us a bit more about it in this short video.

Comprehensive Eyecare

This eye test is available at our Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon, Ayr, Kilwinning, Saltcoats,
Eaglesham, Lanark, Stranraer, Clarkston and Strathaven practices and if booked at the
time of your appointment, only costs £30. If booked following your appointment, as a
follow up examination, it costs £40.

NHS Eye Examinations

Regular Eye Tests are recommended by all health professionals and in Scotland, this is provided FREE of charge by the NHS annually or every two years, depending on your age. The most important part of our service is your eye examination and nothing concerns us more.

Our Opticians will assess every aspect of your eye health and take time to explain any findings. The eye examination consists of an external examination, followed by specific tests for visual acuity, pupil function, visual fields and intraocular pressure. An eye test at Urquharts does a lot more than just check what you can see, it can pick up and detect early signs of eye conditions such as glaucoma, infections and cataracts, as well as underlying health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, autoimmune disorders, high cholesterol and thyroid disease.

Eye Exams FAQs

How much does an NHS Eye Exam cost?

In Scotland, all NHS Eye Tests are FREE. Simply book an appointment and our team will be delighted to look after you. These eye tests can be provided annually if you are:

  • Over 60
  • Under 16
  • Have Glaucoma or a family history of it, depending on your last eye test.

For everyone else, Eye Tests are provided every two years.
If you don’t know whether you are due, please just contact your local practice.

Why do you charge for your Premium Eye Exam?

We charge the small amount of £30 for our Premium Eye Exam because we use equipment and provide a service that is not covered by the NHS. To meet the cost of this equipment and the consultation time, we need to make a small charge for this. The equipment used is an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) and until recently was only available in Hospitals. We now have one in each of our practices in Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon, Kilwinning, Saltcoats, Stranraer, Lanark, Eaglesham, Clarkston, Strathaven and Ayr. We believe £30 is a small price to pay to ensure the continued health of your eyes

I got my eyes tested recently, but I want them tested again. Can I?

Absolutely, but in most cases, this won’t be covered by the NHS. We would be delighted to look after you at any point, but in this scenario, we would charge for a Private Eye Exam at £80. This would include a 40 minute appointment and all of the services included within our NHS Eye Examination

I've got issues with my eyes/vision/ Can I be seen?

Yes, if you have an issue with your eyes or your vision, you can be seen at any time, regardless of your last eye examination. Please call your local practice and we will ask you a few questions before making any necessary appointments.

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