Stuart Laird
Head of Optical, Superintendent Optometrist, Asda Opticians
Regular eye check-ups are important for people of all ages. They ensure you have the sharpest vision possible and also allow optometrists to check on the health of your eyes.
People are more aware of their health nowadays, agrees Stuart Laird, Head of Optical, Superintendent Optometrist, Asda Opticians. They’re also more proactive about seeking help whenever they have a medical concern.
Regular eye tests detect issues early
Yet, when it comes to eye health, there’s still a temptation for people to wait for symptoms to occur before visiting their optician. Laird believes this mindset must change. “Having regular eye tests allows optometrists to detect and correct any changes to a person’s vision,” he says. “It can also detect any eye health issues that a patient may have before symptoms occur so that the appropriate management plan can be enacted. This could be retaining that patient in the community for follow-up, review or, if required, a hospital referral.”
This includes sight-threatening conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts. It can also pick up potential neurological conditions, so it’s recommended that — symptoms or no symptoms — adults should have an eye test every 24 months.
The benefit of an OCT scan is that it takes
an internal photograph, in three dimensions,
of all the structures at the back of the eye.
OCT enhances eye health diagnostics
To help build a better picture of the development and progression of an individual’s eye health, Asda Opticians has invested heavily in optical coherence tomography (OCT). This is imaging technology invaluable for deciding when interventions, treatment or onward referrals are required.
“The benefit of an OCT scan is that it takes an internal photograph, in three dimensions, of all the structures at the back of the eye,” explains Laird. “Some conditions, such as glaucoma, develop in the early stages with subtle changes that occur deep in the retina and simply wouldn’t be visible without this technology.” Because OCT imaging is increasingly available in community optometry settings, patients don’t have to wait for a hospital appointment.
Making eye health care available and affordable
Laird and his team are keen to ensure that no one is excluded from vital eye care. “We have a one-price model on our spectacle ranges,” he says. “This means that the price you see on the spectacles in store is the price you pay, which includes the frame, lenses and anti-reflection coatings and thinner lenses, if they are required.
“There are no nasty surprises on the final bill. That’s important because patients must be able to trust the professionals who are giving them advice and know that they aren’t simply trying to sell them spectacles. Instead, it should be about recommending the best eye care options for patients while keeping it simple and affordable.”
