Mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70 being proposed by HMG. Good or bad?

[Dustydog]

My main reason for not now using Specsavers is that the local ones seem incredibly busy and have limited waiting areas whilst waiting for things like the OCT, peripheral test and glaucoma test. Sometimes you are virtually in a corridor. Also being a big company I get the feeling that everything is timed for throughput. Whereas our local Boots is far more relaxed and you can discuss things more comprehensively with the staff. But fair play to Specsavers they find a dilated optical nerve and got me an appointment to the Bristol Eye Hospital quickly.

There are people and people and premises and premises.
Compare the two you mentioned .At Cirencester and you may get a different perspective.
Do you think HMG / DVLA should use individual Optometrists?
Note SS is a Joint Venture Partnership and is arguably a hybrid between a National and an Individual private firm

 

[otherclive]

There are people and people and premises and premises.
Compare the two you mentioned .At Cirencester and you may get a different perspective.
Do you think HMG / DVLA should use individual Optometrists?
Note SS is a Joint Venture Partnership and is arguably a hybrid between a National and an Individual private firm

No I don’t accept HMG, DVLA should use independent for testing required by DVLA where a drivers eyesight has been questioned. Specsavers nationally have standards procedures and work to the contract. Wrt any future widespread testing of eyesight for 70+ that could be carried out by national of independents against whatever requirements are specified by DVLA. So far in the Government statement ( my earlier link #76) nothing has been said about requirements or how test results may be sent to DVLA, if in fact they are required to be sent. There’s a lot of conjecture. My preference would be mandatory test against specific requirements with the optician giving a prescription and YES/NO and advising the driver what action is required. This could be submitted to a national. database if required but my preference would be to put the onus on the driver just like most other medical conditions affecting your licence. No need to invest in a massive bureaucracy unless the new approach is not working. But I think if drivers are forced to have eyesight tests and confirm to DVLA the outcome of the test at renewal time that’s a salutary reminder. Of course there will be those that buck the system just like other medical conditions affecting driving, insurance, mot, tax, tyres etc. But you cannot legislate totally for perverse behaviour.

Wonder how other countries do it for mandatory tests at renewal time or on a specific birthday?

 

[Dustydog]

I think we may have allowed Fred Drift in🙀
DVLA only use Specsavers where they demand a mandatory eye test. Independents are ok otherwise?

 

[otherclive]

I think we may have allowed Fred Drift in🙀
DVLA only use Specsavers where they demand a mandatory eye test. Independents are ok otherwise?

No Fred Drift in my mind just a reasonable discussion on possible options. But I don’t think it’s going to be a quick introduction either way.

 

[Sam Vimes]

After bad experiences of using Specsavers - for which I would never go back - I'm not sure its a good choice to only have them as the Mandatory Testers.

By the way - could you guys use a bigger font

 

[Hutch]

Is this any better for you.

 

[RogerL]

After bad experiences of using Specsavers - for which I would never go back - I'm not sure its a good choice to only have them as the Mandatory Testers.

By the way - could you guys use a bigger font

At most opticians, it's two different people for testing eyesight and selecting/ordering new spectacles - sometimes it's the latter who let down the branch.

Some time ago I tried to get a detailed explanation from Specsavers on all the many different varifocal patterns but no-one at the branch or head office could provide it.

 

[Beachball]

I think we may have allowed Fred Drift in🙀
DVLA only use Specsavers where they demand a mandatory eye test. Independents are ok otherwise?

Well actually I am only going to Specsavers for my eye test and OCT appointment on 22nd January 09.20 not for DVLA it offers good parking.

 

[Sam Vimes]

At most opticians, it's two different people for testing eyesight and selecting/ordering new spectacles - sometimes it's the latter who let down the branch.

Some time ago I tried to get a detailed explanation from Specsavers on all the many different varifocal patterns but no-one at the branch or head office could provide it.

There's a third party and possibly forth and fifth party as well and that's the lab who make the glasses plus the person who measures you up for the frames.

Finally there should be a check when getting the glasses that they fit correctly and the focus points are in the right place.

 

[Hutch]

There's a third party and possibly forth and fifth party as well and that's the lab who make the glasses plus the person who measures you up for the frames.

Finally there should be a check when getting the glasses that they fit correctly and the focus points are in the right place.

My local Boots opticians, when I bought my last pair of glasses, the chap taking the fitting for them mentioned, that he thought I was looking over the top of my old glasses,
He advised me to have the sight point to be lowered so that my vision point was lower in the lens, this worked very well. Very pleased with the Boots Opticians at Kingston, in Milton Keynes.
So you have the Opticians and the people, I don't know their professional name, who measure and fit your glasses.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I think most of the problems that have been mentioned so far are not an indication of a systemic failure within a company such as Specsavers, but more of an issue with an individual practisioner. You are just as likely to experience the same problem if that practitioner worked for any other opticians business. What is also apparent is how there are a majority of customers who have had no cause to complain.

It is therefore wrong to condemn a whole company because of a problem with one test or prescriptionor the work of one employee.

Where there is obviously problem there is a need for improvement.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Quality Assurance is a corporate responsibility. While failings may come down to individuals performance or lack of, the QC system should take that into account and address any specific individuals failings.

As for condeming a whole company based upon one or more bad experiences due, perhaps, to individuals, we here, are happy to condem Caravan Companies for their poor quality, which may well be down to poor attention to detail by some employees. None the less there is still a corporate responsibilty.

Drifting on - take the wide spread dislike of EVRI. While there are many failings due to individual delivery drivers, the way in which the company expects them to operate is largely the cause of the problems.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Quality Assurance is a corporate responsibility. While failings may come down to individuals performance or lack of, the QC system should take that into account and address any specific individuals failings.

As for condeming a whole company based upon one or more bad experiences due, perhaps, to individuals, we here, are happy to condem Caravan Companies for their poor quality, which may well be down to poor attention to detail by some employees. None the less there is still a corporate responsibilty.

Drifting on - take the wide spread dislike of EVRI. While there are many failings due to individual delivery drivers, the way in which the company expects them to operate is largely the cause of the problems.

You are correct, QA is a corporate issue, but it also demands that every employee from the CEO down has to make it part of their personal ethics for it work correctly. It is also true that it's important the way an organisation deals with non conformity or either product or personnel is a reflection of the efficacy of the QA process.

How many customers of the eye care company have not had their issue resolved by the company, and compare that to the same metric when looking at unsatisfactory package delivery. There is a problem with the final mile delivery services in the way the companies put their employees under unrealistic performance targets.

I must be lucky as it always seems to be the same person who delivers to my house for the named company, and so far there has never been a problem their activities, and if I see them I usually get a cheery wave. I have had issues with deliveries by some of the other services. so its not the same for everyone.

 

[Buckman]

I wonder what staff turnover is like at some of these chain opticians? The problem being that you see an optician who just wants to meet a target as quick as possible and may prescribe lens that appear to be okay but realistically are suitable unsuitable for your eyes.

You go back to ask for another test and are told if they find no issue, you will be changed again. You are then told that there is no issue. As a layman you cannot prove there is an issue and if you go to another optician like an independent, you will need to pay for the eye test again! End result is most people do not bother and learn to live with the specs that may not be suitable for their eyes.

 

[RogerL]

I wonder what staff turnover is like at some of these chain opticians? The problem being that you see an optician who just wants to meet a target as quick as possible and may prescribe lens that appear to be okay but realistically are suitable unsuitable for your eyes.

You go back to ask for another test and are told if they find no issue, you will be changed again. You are then told that there is no issue. As a layman you cannot prove there is an issue and if you go to another optician like an independent, you will need to pay for the eye test again! End result is most people do not bother and learn to live with the specs that may not be suitable for their eyes.

My Asda optician does use locum opticians on 6 month contracts for testing, but is none the worse for that - while their other staff who advise on choice of spectacles and lenses are permanent.

Perhaps in contrast to you, I've never had a problem with testing or spectacles from Asda but I have had from an independent optician.

 

[Buckman]

My Asda optician does use locum opticians on 6 month contracts for testing, but is none the worse for that - while their other staff who advise on choice of spectacles and lenses are permanent.

Perhaps in contrast to you, I've never had a problem with testing or spectacles from Asda but I have had from an independent optician.

Never been to a supermarket to have my eyes tested as found the prices clear enough to read.

 

[otherclive]

I wonder what staff turnover is like at some of these chain opticians? The problem being that you see an optician who just wants to meet a target as quick as possible and may prescribe lens that appear to be okay but realistically are suitable unsuitable for your eyes.

You go back to ask for another test and are told if they find no issue, you will be changed again. You are then told that there is no issue. As a layman you cannot prove there is an issue and if you go to another optician like an independent, you will need to pay for the eye test again! End result is most people do not bother and learn to live with the specs that may not be suitable for their eyes.

On two occasions where I had problems with Specsavers glasses I was never charged, did not need to make an appointment and found their approach friendly and helpful. One of the problems was the lenses were picking up bright lights (street lights, cars and sunlight) and reflecting a vertical bright line down the lens. They replaced lenses and frames. Second one was after an hour or so my frames hurt behind my ears. Specsavers readjusted the frames.


I tend to use Boots as their optician branches are not as busy as Specsavers, but my wife and family use Specsavers with no problems. I take BIL to Specsavers as they have accessible stores and facilities for his wheelchair too.

So as Dusty commented perhaps your experience is branch dependent but why you were recharged is a a puzzle. Mind you if I were recharged twice nothing is still nothing. 😱