At Urquharts, we take great pride in delivering the very highest clinical standards. We believe it is in part what makes us different to other Opticians. When you choose Urquharts for your eye care, you can be assured of the very best care across all of our practices and with all of our Opticians.
We carry out internal audits, clinically and procedurally, to ensure the highest levels of care, diligence and professionalism. These robust processes are necessary given the specialised nature of the eye care that we provide, from routine eye examinations, to management of eye conditions such as Dry Eye and Macular Degeneration.
At Urquharts all of our Optometrists are qualified, or are in the process of becoming qualified, in Independent Prescribing.
We understand that it can be frustrating that following an eye test, you have to wait while an Optometrist writes a referral to your GP so that they can prescribe medication. Well, this need not be the case for much longer. Independent Prescribing enables optometrists to clinically assess a patient, establish a diagnosis, determine the clinical management required and prescribe where necessary. It is a two year course to qualify and Opticians must spend at least 12 days in a hospital setting before sitting the final exam.
It means that our Optometrists can prescribe any licensed medication for conditions affecting the eye, and the areas surrounding the eye, within their recognised area of expertise and competence. This means that you don’t need to be referred to a GP and your condition can be resolved much quicker.
At Urquharts we see patients on a regular basis who suffer from the common condition of Dry Eye. Dry eyes occur when your tears are not able to produce adequate lubrication for your eyes. Dry eyes in some cases can be a chronic condition, but in most cases it feels uncomfortable and irritable. Dry eye can occur for many reasons including age, the wearing of contact lenses, screen time and diet.
The NHS estimates that up to 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 suffers from Dry Eye. That’s why at Urquharts we’ve introduced a dedicated Dry Eye Clinic where one of our fully qualified Opticians in Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon, Ayr, Kilwinning, Saltcoats, West Kilbride, Stranraer, Lanark, Strathaven, Clarkston and Eaglesham will spend time with you, understanding your lifestyle and what is causing your symptoms, before recommending a treatment plan that will manage your Dry Eyes. This is largely a private service that is not covered by the NHS and a consultation starts from £150.
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a painless eye condition that causes you to lose central vision, usually in both eyes. This sight loss usually happens gradually over time, although it can sometimes be rapid. There are two main types – dry AMD and wet AMD. The condition is most common in people over the age of 50. It’s estimated 1 in every 10 people over 65 have some degree of AMD. here’s currently no treatment for Dry AMD. In the case of Wet AMD then time is critical to start treatment and minimise vision loss.At Urquharts our Macular Management Clinic ensures timely intervention, offering daily supplements sent directly to your home and access to our Premium Eye Exam twice per year.
Cataract is an extremely common eye condition which has the symptoms of blurred misty or cloudy vision and difficulty seeing in dim or very bright light. Most cataracts are related to age and the only recognised treatment is via surgery and the removal of the cataract. It is estimated that in the UK, 30% of people aged 65 or older suffer from visually impairing cataract in one or both eyes.
In Scotland, Cataract surgery is available via the NHS, however, a qualifying criteria is in place and as such, our Optometrists must adhere to it. Where referral to the NHS is not appropriate, we partner with the Ayrshire Eye Clinic and we would highly recommend Mr Srinivasan the Consultant Ophthalmologist there.
Glaucoma is an eye condition that causes damage to the Optic Nerve and it gets worse over time. Glaucoma is caused by a buildup of pressure in the eye, known as intraocular pressure. When this pressure increases beyond “normal” levels, it damages the optic nerve and in turn, your vision.
Glaucoma is hereditary and can often be hard to detect, meaning that regular eye examinations are really important for anyone with a family history of Glaucoma. During your eye test, our Opticians will perform a number of tests to check for Glaucoma – Pressure Test (Tonometry), Visual Field Test and where you’ve chosen our Premium Eye Exam, OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography).
Eyecare Ayrshire is aimed at promoting Optometry services as the first port of call for eye problems within Ayrshire and Arran. At Urquharts, we are delighted to be part of this scheme and in doing so; we make at least one appointment available each day in our practices in Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Troon, Ayr, Kilwinning, Saltcoats and West Kilbride for any urgent eye related problems.
Did you know that is costs approximately £140 Per A&E Appointment, £45 Per GP appointment and £24.50 Per Supplementary Optician Appointment. Therefore, it makes best use of public money to make us your first port of call when it comes to eye related conditions.
As part of ‘Eyecare Ayrshire’ Optometrists will be able to issue a ‘signed order’ which patients can take to their Pharmacist (just like a GP prescription) to obtain a range of eye drops and ointments, should this be required, to treat their presenting eye condition. This will be fully funded and therefore free of charge to the patient.
Employers are legally obliged under the Health & Safety regulations to provide eye care for VDU users, clerical staff, drivers and protective eyewear for industrial workers.
At Urquharts, we can care for your employees’ eyes in every way – conventional glasses or safety spectacles. We already work with a number of large corporate organisations to provide a range of protective prescription eyewear that is suitable for all working environments. In some cases, our Optometrists will come onsite to test your employees’ eyes, ensuring the least disruption to your working day.
We work with industry recognised suppliers such as Norville and our Safety Spectacles start from as little as £70 for Distance or Reading Lenses.
For some patients, there comes a time when conventional spectacles can no longer help and surgery or medical treatment is not appropriate. In this scenario, your Optometrist will assess your needs and recommend low vision aids from simple hand-held lenses to electronic devices. There is a variety available for different visual tasks and your Optometrist will take time to explain the use of each, based on your needs.
At Urquharts, we also recognise the value of developing technology and as such we have an exclusive agreement with OrCam to offer their wearable artificial vision technology, My Eye. This revolutionary small, glass mounted camera, ear piece and pocket sized computer reads text to the visually impaired wearer, interpreting everything from books and letters, to menus, signs and even, faces.
Dry Eye can affect one or both eyes
Unfortunately, yes. However, most patients with Age Related Macular Degeneration can keep good vision for their entire lives, and even those who lose their central vision, can maintain their “peripheral” vision
The cost per eye is approximately £2,500 and this includes all Pre and Post Care procedures
In NHS Ayrshire &Arran, there are a range of approved Low Vision Aids that are covered by the NHS. Anything outside the scope of these aids, including OrCamMyEye would need to be paid for privately
