A. In Scotland, all NHS Eye Tests are FREE. Simply book an appointment and our team will be delighted to look after you..
Eye tests can be provided annually if you are:
For everyone else, Eye Tests are provided every two years
A. Yes, please just call any of our practices in Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon or Ayr and we can check. All we will require is some personal details and to setup an account for you on our practice management system. We can then access a live system that we have with the NHS that details all of your previous eye exam dates
A. We charge the small amount of £25 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 practice in Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon and Ayr. We believe £25 is a small price to pay to ensure the continued health of your eyes
A. 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 £45. This would include a 45 minute appointment and all of the services included within our NHS Eye Examination
A. 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 in Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon or Ayr and we will ask you a few questions before making any necessary appointments
A. You can request a specific Optician. At Urquharts, we believe in the value of building relationships with our clients and therefore we always make best efforts to ensure you are seeing the same Optician on each visit. At times, this isn’t always possible but where it’s not, you’ll still be cared for in exactly the same way, no matter what
A. Under the guidance of the General Optical Council, to wear Contact Lenses, you need to have an in date sight test and Contact Lens Aftercare. Your Contact Lens Aftercare will be annually, in some cases every two years. Your Eyes Test being in date will depend on your age and should be annual if you are Over 60, Under16 or have Glaucoma or have a Family History of it. For everyone else it would be every two years.
So, having had your Contact Lens Aftercare recently, doesn’t really impact your Eye Test and therefore we’d recommend that you call us and we will check whether you are due
A. Yes we will send you a reminder that your eye test is due. This is done in a variety of ways – Post, Email, SMS and by phone
A. Yes, definitely. Our eye examination is not just about checking your vision and getting a prescription, it is about your wider eye health. We will assess the inner and outer parts of your eye and eyes can be affected by a number of conditions which may be picked up early through a sight test, giving it less chance of affecting your vision
A. In Ayrshire, GPs are advised to send all eye conditions to the local Optician. Therefore, please call your local Urquharts practice in Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon or Ayr and we will be delighted to assist you. We will ask you some questions in relation to the issue that you are experiencing and then we will pass this information to our Optician who will advise on the correct next steps
A. Cataracts is the clouding of the eyes natural lens. Overtime this clouding can become bigger. For people with Cataracts, it often feels like they are looking through a frosted or fogged-up window. Most cataracts develop slowly and won’t initially affect your vision but will get progressively worse and affect things such as reading and driving
A. Most cataracts develop due to age. Some inherited genetic disorders that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts
A. Cataract surgery is the recommended pathway for treatment. It is a routine operation carried out successfully on many patients where the clouded lens is replaced with an artificial lens
A. Conjunctivitis, also known as Pink eye, is an eye condition caused by infection or allergies. Two types exist: Bacterial and Viral. Bacterial Conjunctivitis, as the name suggests, is caused by your eye coming into contact with Bacteria. Antibiotics are usually suffice to for this condition. Viral conjunctivitis usually produces watery discharge and is highly contagious. No eye drops or ointments are effective against the common viruses that cause viral conjunctivitis
A. Glaucoma is an eye condition where the optic nerve becomes damaged. It is usually caused by a build up of pressure in the front part of the eye and it can lead to vision loss. It affects people of all ages but is most common in those over the age of 60
A. Treatment can’t reverse any loss of vision that has already occurred but it can help to stop your vision getting any worse. Treatment can include, laser surgery, eye drops and medication
A. Pregnancy can change your vision by making your eyes more sensitive to light, causing headaches. It can also make you sight blurry, and while often only temporary, it’s important to get checked out. Any existing eye conditions such as Glaucoma could make the symptoms more severe and again, should be checked by an Optician
A. 20/20 vision is a term used to describe normal visual acuity. Visual acuity means the clarity or sharpness of vision. If you have 20/20 vision, it means that you can see clearly at 20 feet, what should normally be seen from that distance. It does not necessarily mean perfect vision, although it is often used in this context by many people. Other important factors for vision include peripheral vision, eye coordination, depth perception and colour vision