tech_guy Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 I've noticed over the last twelve months a steady deterioration of my vision. My last sight check was a year ago and it was fine but I find that I'm now squinting quite badly at small type and have had to increase the size of text on the screen. The wife wears glasses and using hers stops the squinting so it's off to the opticians for me. My school I think will pay for half of the cost of the eye test, but I'm sure they'll kick up a stink when I ask them for a contribution to the cost of the glasses. Where do I stand as I will only really need to use them for work as at home I use a 24" screen so I don't have a problem?
featured_spectre Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 Under health and safety law as you use VDUs for over 75% of your working day, your work should cover the cost of the eye test and half of the glasses.
mattx Posted January 3, 2011 Posted January 3, 2011 Under health and safety law as you use VDUs for over 75% of your working day, your work should cover the cost of the eye test and half of the glasses. Indeed you are correct - I just claim for the eye test, the glasses I get half back because I pay into the HSA [ Simplyhealth ] I have just got a new pair as I was struggling with small print [ taking my glasses off to read it ] - now with my new pair I can finally read and most importantly locate my beer glass.
sippo Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 Don't even get me started on this! My school paid for the eye test but refuse to contribute. Spoke to my union, and unless they contribute to other members of staff's glasses (which they don't) then the school don't have contribute to yours either!!
apeo Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 Under health and safety law as you use VDUs for over 75% of your working day, your work should cover the cost of the eye test and half of the glasses. Really, I wear contacts and pay by monthly DD. This includes the cost of eye tests and the lenses. I've always paid it myself, wonder if i can claim something... im guessing not. That being said the opticians has a new machine that does a 3d scan thats not included in my monthly plan so comes at an additional cost, maybe i can claim that as an eye test and get money back for that?
Andrew_C Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 (edited) I think that they only have to pay if the glasses are "only for work". If you need them day in, day out, tough. Oh, and we work on 50% of the working day as the threshold. Correction - Free eye tests Studies haven't shown a link between VDU use and damage to eyesight, but if you feel that using a VDU screen is making your eyes tired, tell your employer or employee safety representative. You have the right to a free eyesight test if you use, or are about to use, a VDU a lot during work hours. You can also get more free tests if recommended by your optician. If you are prescribed glasses to help you work with a VDU, your employer must pay for a basic pair of glasses, provided they are needed especially for your work. Link - Direct Gov Edited January 4, 2011 by Andrew_C
Hightower Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 Yeah, it's only for work, and most places will make you go to occupational health for a check before you trundle off to the optician. It's more trouble than it's worth.
plexer Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 Work pays for the eye test through an eye test voucher, glasses they only have to contribute to if needed specifically for vdu work. My place tried to tell me I was only able to have a voucher if I hadn't had one in the last 3 eyars or so which is tosh you are entitled to for the period as specified by your optician i.e every 18 months, 12 months etc... Ben
sippo Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 I only use my glasses for work and were prescribed just for work, and still my union/head gave the advice.
Andrew_C Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 So another case of a union being a waste of cash? Go back to your manager with the print out from Direct.Gov I link to above and see what they say.
laserblazer Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 So another case of a union being a waste of cash? Go back to your manager with the print out from Direct.Gov I link to above and see what they say. I tried that. The Head took me outside and pointed to the sky. "What's that?" he asked. "The Sun," I replied. "How far do you want to see?"
sippo Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 Tried that aswell. Stating the info from the gov, and then he was blaming budgets and cuts etc...
apeo Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 I think that they only have to pay if the glasses are "only for work". If you need them day in, day out, tough. Oh, and we work on 50% of the working day as the threshold. Correction - Link - Direct Gov Oh i see...
HarryMonkey Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 Mine refund me the cost of the eye test. I don't bother claiming for glasses as I use them at home as well.
john Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 I'm going to attack this one this week, I want them to refund my sight test fees, I'm not bothered about the contribution to the glasses, just the sight test.
Andrew_C Posted January 4, 2011 Posted January 4, 2011 Stuff that! I can see the Andromeda galaxy, but still need glasses for working on the PC at work. It is a legal requirement that your employer do this!
featured_spectre Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Speaking of eye tests, went for one today, got told by optician to see my Dr immediately, so I did with his note, he sent me to A&E, from there I saw the on call ophthamologist (sp?) and had a few tests done. Had a pressure test, then an injection around my eye to numb the whole area including the eye, and then an injection in my eye (literally in my eye with some sort of dye so they could see inside my eye fully), and then dye drops on my eye. Turns out that I have a bad bacterial infection that is affecting the fluid in my eye, and have been given some strong antibacterial drops to put on my eye.
john Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Speaking of eye tests, went for one today, got told by optician to see my Dr immediately, so I did with his note, he sent me to A&E, from there I saw the on call ophthamologist (sp?) and had a few tests done. Had a pressure test, then an injection around my eye to numb the whole area including the eye, and then an injection in my eye (literally in my eye with some sort of dye so they could see inside my eye fully), and then dye drops on my eye. Turns out that I have a bad bacterial infection that is affecting the fluid in my eye, and have been given some strong antibacterial drops to put on my eye. Oooh that sounds nasty, amazing what these opticians can find with there microscopes and things. Sounds like you have been caught and getting treatment though which must be good and a relief for you. As for my tackling it and not bothered about the glasses bit. I don't need my glasses for using the PC, there for distance and driving, BUT they have a ultraclear coating on them for reducing screen glare which does make a difference I've found, so could argue that bit I guess. What ever they pay they won't be paying for the designer frames and lens option that I have, have you seen Specsavers value range
laserblazer Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 I'm quite long-sighted and wear varifocals (expensive) but because we naturally get short-sighted as we get older, my vision is improving slightly each time I'm tested. By the time I'm 120 I won't need glasses.
Jawloms Posted January 8, 2011 Posted January 8, 2011 If anyone wants a cheap eye test, Boots and D&A currently have a voucher to get one for a fiver; 5 Eye Test - Get your Eyes Tested for 5 - Boots
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