As much as we love beautiful eyewear at Steel and Varley the eye examination is the foundation upon which our opticians is built.  Our expert optometrists, when not working in the hospital eye department, are given the time and equipment to make sure your prescription is accurate and your eyes are healthy.

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Why should I have my eye examination at Steel and Varley Opticians?

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1) Time.  Whilst 20 minute eye tests may be common place in some opticians we do not believe that is long enough to do a comprehensive eye examination.  That is why our eye tests are 45 minutes long which gives our optometrists time to find out about you and your eyecare needs but also, importantly, they can do everything necessary to investigate fully your eye health.

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2) Comprehensive.  We do not believe in a "basic" eye test so everyone gets the 45 minute appointments. Many of our optometrists have hospital eye department experience so all we have to do is give them the time and the best equipment available to ensure the highest standard of eye care.

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3) Equipment.  Without the right equipment even the best optometrist in the world cannot operate effectively.  That is why we have invested in the latest technology including a ZEISS CIRRUS 5000 (described as a MRI for the eye) which can give us early warning for common ocular conditions such as Glaucoma, Macula Degeneration (AMD) and optic nerve disease.

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4) Independent Prescribing.  Our longstanding resident optometrist, Martin Hood, has taken additional qualifications which mean he is able to privately prescribe ocular medications, if necessary.  He can successfully treat conditions such as:

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• Allergic / Bacterial / Viral Conjunctivitis

• Dry Eye

• Blepharitis

• Foreign Body Removal

• Eye lash removal (trichiasis)

• Herpes Simplex Keratitis (recurring episodes of)

• Styes

• Marginal Keratitis

• Corneal abrasion

• Trauma

• Anterior Uveitis (recurring episodes of)

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This means our patients do not necessarily have to sit for hours in an over-crowded eye casualty.  We can see them quickly and get them the treatment they need