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Specialist Services

In addition to our comprehensive eye examination we can also provide a more specialised service, depending on your needs. These incur an additional fee and may be an extension of the routine eye examination or booked as a separate appointment.

Retinal Photography

Both of our practices have a retinal camera, which enables the optometrist to take digital photographs of the retina at the back of your eye. This gives a permanent and accurate record of the appearance of your eyes, which we store on our computer using a specialised database.

At subsequent visits the optometrist can compare images and look for any changes in your eye health. This is especially useful in monitoring eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, suspect glaucoma and diabetes. Even if your eyes are healthy it is still worth having photographs, as this will be useful for comparison in the future.

Glaucoma Screening

This is a more in-depth assessment for patients at a greater risk of glaucoma, e.g. family history, high eye pressures, suspicious appearance to the optic nerve.

Your eye pressure will be measured using a Goldmann tonometer (instead of a puff of air), and your peripheral field of vision assessed in more detail using the Humphrey Field Analyser. Both instruments are considered to be the gold standard and are used in hospitals. A retinal photograph will also be taken which will allow the optometrist to monitor for any changes to the appearance of your optic nerve. Your optometrist may also use a special lens to examine the drainage angle in between the front surface of your eye and the iris.

Dry Eye Testing

Dry eye is a very common eye condition. It occurs if the tears evaporate too quickly or if the eyes do not produce enough tears. Common symptoms are gritty eyes, watery eyes, and intermittent blurring of vision. Dry eye is diagnosed by your symptoms and examining the tear layer and eyelid glands with a microscope. Special dyes are used to view the tears better and to show up any dry patches on the eye surface.

Dry eye cannot usually be cured, but can be managed to reduce your symptoms. Eye lubricants are often prescribed to suit your needs and changes can be made to your environment to improve eye comfort. We can also use punctal plugs, which block the tiny tear drainage holes in your eyelids and help keep the eyes moist.

Binocular Vision Assessments/Dyslexia

In order for our visual system to work to its full potential it is important that we have good binocular vision. This requires both eyes to see well and work together as a team. This is especially so for children, whose eyes are still developing.

Some people experience visual discomfort that can be due to problems with the binocular vision system. At Lynne Fernandes Optometrists we can assess various aspects of your binocular vision and prescribe eye exercises or spectacles to make your vision more comfortable. If appropriate we can also assess your reading vision using Intuitive Overlays.

DVLA Assessments

Both of our practices are registered with the DVLA to check visual fitness to drive. This involves measuring your level of vision in each eye separately, with and without spectacles, and assessing your peripheral vision. The latter is carried out with both of your eyes open, using a Humphrey Visual Field Analyser or Henson 6000 field screener and is called an Estermann visual field.

Most patients are referred to us directly by the DVLA, for example if you have glaucoma or diabetes. However, you can arrange for an appointment privately if you have failed the test in the past and wish to try again before contacting the DVLA for reassessment.

NHS restrictions

As an optometry practice our aim is to provide the highest possible eye care. In England this is not possible under the NHS General Optical Service Sight Test. We feel it is important to explain entitlement as every time you claim a NHS test you sign a legal form claiming your entitlement. What is not widely known is that increasingly restrictions are placed upon when we are allowed to conduct a NHS sight test and governments (of all colours) have deliberately reduced its value over the last 30 years. Therefore in all opticians in England and Wales, spectacles are artificially expensive to subsidise clinical care. We do not feel this is fair or ethical as we are aware that clinical eye examining can be reduced into an opportunity just to sell more*.

Our aim at Lynne Fernandes Optometrists is that clinical care should be separate from purchasing products such as spectacles.

Emergency Appointments

Occasionally emergencies arise. We are happy to see patients in an emergency or give advice where to attend. Unlike Scotland, Wales and even Somerset there is no NHS provision for emergency appointments in Bristol or North Somerset. We therefore charge a small fee for our professional time.

EyeSense

Our skills and training as optometrists have improved hugely over the past 10-15 years to the extent where optometrists provide the majority of specialist services in Glaucoma, contact lenses, low vision to name a few within our local eye hospital.

EyeSense is the name of the scheme Gerard and Lynne have designed to offer this to patients who value their eye health first and foremost. It offers health care using techniques, equipment and skills far superior to those available under a NHS sight test. Clinical need dictates cost within three bands, Gold, Silver and Bronze. We spread the costs with small direct debit payments. As you the patient is then paying for your eye-care fairly we discount all products by at least 25% to allow for this.

We encourage all our patients to join EyeSense as we feel you visit our practice for the best possible eye care and that is EyeSense. However as a community practice we will always offer NHS sight tests for those entitled and it is important to us that you choose what is right for you.