Services
Our expert and attentive staff will guide you on all your visual and eyewear needs.
Your vision is amazing – you use it for approximately 16 hours a day every day and without it, you would struggle to carry out the vast majority of your daily tasks. Additionally, research suggests that over 80% of perception, learning, cognition and activities are mediated through vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
You are entitled to an eye examination paid for by the NHS if: you are under 16 years of age you are under 19 years of age and in full time education you or your partner are getting income support you or your partner are getting family credit you are over 60 years of age you suffer from glaucoma you are over 40 years of age and have a family history of glaucoma you require certain types of complex lenses you are registered as blind or partially sighted.
If you fall into any of the first four categories above you will get help towards the cost of glasses. If you require complex lenses you may get a small allowance.
No. All you need to do is make an appointment. You can ring, email us or just call in. We may even be able to see you without an appointment.
They don’t! Modern lens materials mean that lenses can be made much thinner and lighter nowadays. Frames can also be lightweight and durable; modern styles are also very neat and ideal for higher prescriptions. For more information check out our lenses page.
Eat plenty of broccoli, spinach, sweetcorn, orange and yellow peppers, kiwi fruits, oranges and mangoes. These foods contain lutein and zeaxanthin, substances that may help protect against some eye conditions. Protect your eyes from strong sunlight with sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. Sun’s UV rays can contribute to eye problems . If you like reading or spend a lot of time on the computer make sure you take regular breaks to prevent tired, sore eyes. We recommend sports goggles for those who play racquet sports such as squash or badminton, to shield your eyes. Please ask about our prescription sports goggles.
Age related macular degeneration is a medical condition which usually affects older adults that results in a loss of vision in the centre of the visual field because of damage to the retina. It occurs in “dry” and “wet” forms. It is a major cause of visual impairment in older adults (over 50 years). Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although enough peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily life. There are several treatment options available that can slow the progression of wet AMD and, in some cases, restore some of the lost vision. Treatment must be started as soon as possible. If you have had recent changes to your vision, please attend for an eye examination. We, at Eye Express, should be able to detect age related macular degeneration by use of specialist equipment.
On average about every two years. Certain people may require more frequent examinations. For example, over 70s, diabetics or people who have a family history of glaucoma may well be required to have an examination every year. Children should also be seen at least every year and in many cases every six months.
Yes you may. The two tests are independent for each other. We at Eye Express, currently conduct diabetic eye tests but not diabetic screening. We are presenting a case for diabetic screening to be conducted at Eye Express (the Perry Barr branch) and if you would like to add your name to our application, please contact us.
Many people with astigmatism – (irregular shaped eyes) can now be fitted with contact lenses. In higher degrees of astigmatism special types of lenses called toric lenses can be used. These can be soft or gas permeable. Soft lenses for astigmatism are now available in all the different types of disposable from the new silicone hydrogel material to daily disposable.
Yes. There are various options of how this can be achieved, but now we also have the advantage of the latest silicone hydrogel soft lenses available as a multifocal. These work very easily and create big advantages over other forms and even spectacles themselves as you can read at any height in front of the eye, which could prove a huge advantage for computer use – please enquire.
Glaucoma is the diagnosis given to a group of ocular conditions that contribute to the loss of retinal nerve fibres with a corresponding loss of vision. Glaucoma therefore is a disease of the optic nerve, the nerve bundle which carries the images we see to the brain. The eyeball is basically a rigid sphere filled with fluid. As the total amount of fluid within the eye increases, so does the pressure, similar to over inflating a tire. Many people know that glaucoma has something to do with pressure inside the eye. The higher the pressure inside the eye, the greater the chance of damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma is said to be the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 40 and it affects approximately 2% of that population. The visual defect is most often observed as enlargement of the physiological blind spot and other visual field losses. However, if detected early, complete blindness resulting from glaucoma can be prevented. Glaucoma is most common in people with a family history of the disease, and in nearsighted patients. Patients with systemic diseases such as diabetes, anaemia, or hardening of the arteries are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma. African-Americans tend to develop glaucoma more often than other racial groups. A comprehensive eye examination is required for diagnosis, and early treatment is the best way to preserve vision once the diagnosis has been made.