optometrist home visit

House Calls

Scheduling your appointment.

Please call or email to request an appointment. Appointments are scheduled 1-2 weeks in advance according to when a doctor will be seeing patients in your area. We will call you to confirm a one to two hour appointment window for the doctor’s arrival at your home.

Your first visit

• Name and location of primary care physician
• Past medical and ocular history
• Any records from previous eye doctors, if available
• Current list of medications, or the bottles from the pharmacy. This includes all medications, over the counter supplements and vitamins– not just eye drops!
• Insurance cards
• Hospital discharge papers, if applicable

Follow up care

Your doctor will work with you to determine the frequency of future visits based on your specific ocular health needs. You can always call for a visit if you feel you need to see the doctor sooner than your next scheduled appointment!

House Calls – We Bring the Doctor’s Office to the Patient

At Mobile Physician Services, we provide comprehensive care to improve the health and quality of life of our patients – in the convenience and comfort of their own home. Our team of board-certified doctors, advance nurse practitioners, and physician assistants specialize in providing care for patients with medically complex and chronic conditions.

Our Services

We accept Medicare, many insurance plans, and self-pay.

To find out more about our services:

Call Toll-free: (855) 232-0644

E-mail us at [email protected]

Primary Care

Pain management, palliative care.

At Mobile Physician Services, our customized care teams provide patients with both comfort and familiarity as they work with a dedicated primary care provider and care coordinator to improve their health. Our physicians and staff take a proactive approach to preventive care, chronic disease management, and chronic illness support right where you live.

Each home visit includes an in-depth examination and individualized treatment plan, which is monitored and adjusted through routine follow-up visits. The primary care provider will deliver your ongoing care and will recommend to you specialty services as needed.

• Annual Wellness visits : This wellness visit allows your primary care provider to create or update your personalized prevention plan. This visit includes a review of your medical and social history related to your health and may include counseling about preventive services. This plan may help you to prevent or reduce the chances of future illness based on your current health and risk factors.
• New Illness Exams : When a new symptom or ailment arises, call us. Early indications of not feeling well could be a clue that you may be getting sick. A symptom in one part of the body may also be a sign of a problem in another part of the body. Moreover, unrelated symptoms that might seem minor on their own, could be warning signs of a more serious medical disease or condition. The new illness exam can be very brief or more detailed depending on your concerns and the provider’s findings.
• Follow-up Care: Involves a regular medical checkup, which may include a physical exam and laboratory testing. Follow-up care checks are a proactive way of assessing the potential for and preventing health problems from returning after treatment of a disease has ended or an illness has seemingly passed.
• Referral for Specialty Care : Referrals are the link between primary and specialty care. The referral coordination includes the documentation of patient care activities, the transfer of information, the inter-provider communication itself, and the integration of care services to the patient. Mobile Physician Services is a multi-specialty practice so many of these specialty referral services can be made seamlessly with little inconvenience or disruption to the patient and caregivers regular routines.
• Medication Management: Medication management is a treatment structure that ensures our patients are receiving optimal therapeutic results from their prescription medications, both in the short and long term. Our team’s goal is to mitigate medication noncompliance and monitor all prescriptions treatments so that drug interactions complement one another for the most optimal outcome for our patients.

The provider may be a physician, advanced practice nurse or a physician assistant. A dedicated care coordinator will also be assigned for each patient to help arrange comprehensive services and assist patients and their caregivers.

• Online Patient Portal: You and your designated caregiver, if you choose, will be able to connect with your provider through a convenient, safe and secure environment which allows access to your health records and a way to communicate with our staff in a timely manner.
• Telephone Assistance : On call providers are available 24/7 weekdays and weekends.

Our psychiatry team specializes in the diagnosis and management of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. They carefully evaluate each patient to develop an individualized treatment plan to improve the patient’s overall mental and physical well-being.

• Depression : Depression is a common and often serious medical illness that negatively affects how you may feel, the way you may think, and how you may act. Depression can cause feelings of sadness, despair and hopelessness, which may lead to a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
• Anxiety : Intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday common situations. The worry or anxiety could make you feel fatigued, irritable, and interfere with your regular sleep habits.
• Dementia : An overall term that is used to describes a collection of symptoms related to an individual’s decline in memory or other thinking skills. It may be severe enough to diminish a person’s ability to perform everyday common activities. The effects of dementia can negatively influence your memory, thinking and social abilities.
• Phobias : A phobia is when you experience excessive panicking or an irrational fear reaction to a situation. If you have a phobia, you may experience a deep sense of dread or fright when you encounter the source of your fear. The fear may be a certain place, situation, object, animal or even another person.
• Behavioral disorders : Attention deficit, hyperactivity, bipolar, learning, defiant or conduct disorders are all examples of complaints that may have a detrimental impact on a person’s interpersonal relationships with family, friends, and co-workers.

Our team can provide behavioral counselling and medical therapy, when appropriate, to help a patient feel better about themselves and to assist them with better coping and managing their condition.

Our wound care specialists have been trained in the attention and treatment of all types of acute and chronic wounds. They have skill and experience in wound debridement and wound care procedures – managing chronic, non-healing wounds and infections, with a demonstrated care that fosters healing… right in the patient’s own home.

We specialize in serving homebound patients who may also be bed-bound or have difficulty in walking or moving around. As a result, immobility compression sores develop at pressure points on the body when the weight of an immobilized individual rests continuously on a firm surface, such as a mattress or wheel chair. Often these same patients are on oxygen or have high-risk medical conditions which makes it an even more challenging and stressful effort for them to travel to a doctor’s office for an appointment. Thus, the necessity for in home care and treatment.

Wounds that benefit from specialized wound care techniques include:

• Diabetic foot wounds and ulcers
• Post-surgical wounds
• Traumatic wounds caused by injury
• Arterial and vein stasis caused by lack of circulation
• Immobility pressure sores. (Bed sores from stillness)

We work closely with home health agencies to provide ongoing care and monitoring of patient’s wounds.

Our board-certified podiatrists treat foot pain, wounds, and more. Treatments may include but are not limited to treating conditions of the lower extremities which could hinder mobility.

• We will review each patients’ medical history to evaluate the condition of the feet, ankle or lower leg
• Carry out a diagnosis on the feet and lower legs through examination and medical tests
• Order physical therapy when deemed necessary
• Treat wounds of the lower extremities using various wound care modalities. This may include debridement to improve the healing potential
• Promote prevention, health & well being, the treatment and management of the foot and related problems, disability, deformity, and the pedal complications of chronic diseases for the elderly
• Prescribe and fit prosthetic appliances such as diabetic shoe inserts and evaluate for bracing if necessary
• Refer patients to other specialists for treatment, including conditions such as diabetes or arthritis
• Advise patients on ways to prevent future leg problems and increase speed of recovery
• Monitor the recovery progress of patients to determine the need for change in treatment

We know it’s not always easy to leave home to get the care you need for your eyes. Our optometrists bring state-of-the-art diagnostic eye equipment and technology to your home – making it much easier for you to get the vision care you need.

During a visit, your doctor will exam each eye for signs of serious issues such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and detached retinas, among other conditions.

Receiving regular eye exams regardless of the state of your vision can help detect serious eye problems at their earliest stages ─ when they are most treatable. During an eye exam, your doctor will observe and evaluate the health and condition of the blood vessels in your retina, which can be good indicators of the health of your blood vessels throughout the rest of your body.

• Comprehensive eye exams : This exam goes beyond a simple vision screening. A comprehensive eye exam includes a host of tests in order to do a complete evaluation of the health of your eyes and your vision.
• Annual retina exams : A retinal exam allows your doctor to evaluate the back of your eye, including the retina, the optic disk and the underlying layer of blood vessels that supply the retina.
• Eyeglass fittings : A prescription works best when your eyeglasses are properly fitted. Improper fitting may cause pinching, distorted vision, headaches, and even dizziness. Our doctors will make sure your prescription lenses and frames are working together for you.
• Diabetic eye exams : Diabetes does not have to lead to vision loss. Taking an active role in managing your diabetes can go a long way in curbing later complications. Regular eye exams, good management of your blood sugar and blood pressure, along with early intervention for vision problems can help prevent vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy. Retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye.
• Refractions: This test is given as part of your routine eye examination. It is often referred to as a vision test. This test assists your eye doctor in measuring you for the exact lens prescription you will need.
• Eye injuries: Eye trauma could be the result of a sudden blow to the eye. It may cause the eye to suddenly compress and retract which could cause damage to your eye and the surrounding tissue. Even if the injury may seem minor, all eye injuries should be furthered examined by a doctor for possible more serious and underlying injuries.
• Eye infections: The most common eye infection is conjunctivitis, also known as pink-eye. An eye infection can happen in almost any part of your eye, including your eye lid, cornea and optic nerve. Symptoms of eye infections may include redness, itching, swelling, discharge, pain, or problems with vision. Always consult with your doctor before treating, as recommended actions are contingent on the cause of the infection.
• Low-vision exams: A low vision exam is different from a normal eye exam. This functional-vision assessment determines how specific visual impairments affects your ability to perform everyday activities. The exam’s results assist your doctor in prescribing management tools and medications to better enhance and manage your remaining vision.

Pain management is the process of providing medical care that alleviates or reduces pain. Pain management is a subspecialty of general medicine employing an interdisciplinary approach to ease the suffering and improve the quality of life of those living with chronic pain by using a combination of pain medications, joint and muscles injections, and physical therapy techniques.

A pain management specialist is a provider with advanced training in diagnosing and treating pain. Our pain management specialists treat pain stemming from a variety of different causes, whether it’s neuropathic pain or headache, or the result of injury, a surgical procedure, cancer or another illness.

Palliative care is an approach to the holistic care of patients, including family and caregivers, to improve the quality of their lives after the diagnosis of a chronic debilitating disease or life-limiting illness that may cause a host of complaints.

Palliative care can begin at diagnosis and continue to be offered while the patient is continuing active treatment through different phases of their life limiting condition. Palliative care is for any patient with a chronic illness who is experiencing a decreased quality of life because of symptoms related to their illness or treatment, like renal dialysis, oxygen therapy or chemotherapy. The care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other specialists who work together to provide an extra layer of support to the patient and their caregivers.

Palliative care can help in symptom control including not only pain, but nausea, weakness, shortness of breath, fatigue and weight loss at any time during their diseases, not only at the end of life.

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Using a Home Vision Test to Order Glasses Online

Ordering  glasses and contacts online is a tempting option. But how reliable are home vision tests , and should you use them to order new lenses? “The public should understand that that these online tests can measure the power of your eyeglass prescription, but they can’t detect eye diseases that often have hidden symptoms,” said Michael X. Repka, MD, medical director of government affairs for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “While online tests for glasses prescription may be okay for adults 18-39 years of age with healthy eyes, they are not appropriate for those with an eye condition or risk factors for eye disease – such as having diabetes or a family history of glaucoma – or for those who have not had a recent eye examination.”

How do home vision tests work?

Do-it-yourself vision exams are easy to find online. Verana Health offers a  free app that allows patients to measure their vision using their smartphone and monitor changes in their sight over time.  EyeQue's Personal Vision Tester pairs your smartphone with a handheld miniscope to generate a personalized eyeglass prescription. And various other websites offer vision tests using a mobile device.

Some of these services ask you to stand about 10 feet away from your device in a well-lit area and speak the letters aloud as you look at an eye chart . Others, like EyeQue's test, use a handheld device to check vision. The results are then reviewed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, who issues a prescription that you can use to buy glasses online .

Never use a home vision tests to order contacts

Experts strongly caution against using home eye exams to order contact lenses . Contacts should be fitted by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, who are trained to check for a good fit. Improperly fitting contact lenses can cause a range of complications , from redness and irritation to potentially blinding conditions such as a corneal infection.

How reliable are home vision tests?

While mobile apps and other technologies are constantly improving, a home vision test won't be as accurate or reliable as a test done by your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

A home vision test also won't detect serious eye problems or underlying health conditions . Adults ages 18-39 years still need to have  comprehensive eye exams every five to 10 years, even if they have no eye symptoms or risk factors for eye disease. These exams can detect common eye diseases as well as hidden conditions that may lead to blindness if not properly treated.

Should I measure my vision at home?

Whether you should rely on a home vision test depends on your age, medical history and other factors.

Online vision testing should be limited to healthy adults (ages 18-39 years) who have a mild or moderate eyeglass prescription and no symptoms of eye disease . It's important to keep the following points in mind:

• Home vision exams are best used to update an existing prescription in adults who previously had a comprehensive eye exam.
• All corrective eyewear prescriptions must always be approved by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
• If you have a high-power or irregular prescription, skip the home vision tests and schedule an exam with your ophthalmologist or optometrist.
• If you're at risk for eye disease or have eye symptoms, see an ophthalmologist. Always schedule follow-up visits at the frequency your ophthalmologist recommends.
• Even if you're perfectly healthy, the best way to protect your vision is by having in-person comprehensive eye exams at the frequency recommended by the Academy .
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• Vision Test
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• Blurry Vision
• Conjunctivitis - Pink Eye
• Corneal Abrasions
• Eye Discharge
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• Eye Infections
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• Ocular Migraines
• Swollen Eyelids
• How to Get Rid of a Stye
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• Eye Floaters
• Myopia in Children
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• Refractive errors and refraction
• Visual Acuity: 20/20 Vision
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Eye doctors switch to virtual "eye exams" to limit COVID-19 spread

By John Egan

Eye doctors get creative with telehealth

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some eye doctors are seeing patients via virtual "eye exams" while their offices are limited for routine eye care.

Yes, you may be able to FaceTime with your eye doctor to find out if that bump on your eye is a stye and what you can do to treat it at home.

What’s driving the shift to telehealth? Efforts to control the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. 

On March 18, 2020, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) issued a practice guidance document that urged all ophthalmologists to immediately "cease providing any treatment other than urgent or emergent care."

The following month, AAO released a follow-up message from Academy CEO, David W. Parke II, MD, on reopening ophthalmology care , which stated that, "the decisions to reopen more normal practice will be local and regional...based on local and state governments, on public health authorities interpreting local patterns of disease, on testing availability, on institutional policies and ultimately on individual ophthalmologists."

On March 24, 2020, the American Optometric Association’s Health Policy Institute (HPI) released a statement advising optometrists to be aware of guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that month to postpone all routine eye care visits. The HPI further advised optometrists to take appropriate measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

As a result of these actions and recommendations, until the spread of COVID-19 is contained, many eye care professionals have turned to telehealth to diagnose eye issues without the need for in-office visits — and without potentially exposing people to coronavirus.

Virtual visits allow an eye doctor to care for patients, often in real time, by videoconference, computer, smartphone or telephone.

SEE RELATED: Should I wait to have eye surgery until after COVID-19?

How eye doctors are using virtual visits

Dr. David Goldman, an ophthalmologist in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, says telemedicine lets eye care professionals determine whether a patient is experiencing a medical emergency. 

For instance, a patient’s eye irritation might be caused by an easy-to-treat swollen eyelid , meaning it’s not an emergency.

“By being able to evaluate these patients from afar, we can minimize the number of in-office visits and decrease overall risk for everyone of coronavirus exposure ,” Goldman says.

Reassuring patients during a global pandemic

Dr. Susan Resnick, an optometrist who is president and co-managing partner of an eye care practice in the New York City area, says that before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, her practice was investigating telehealth. 

The pandemic rapidly sped up that process, she says. Now, the practice relies on a telehealth platform called Doxy.me.

Resnick says telehealth helps doctors determine whether, for example, a patient should be prescribed medicine without an office visit or if an in-person visit is warranted.

“It is certainly a way to reassure patients that we are there for them, which is most important in these scary times,” Resnick says. 

And once the current restrictions on office visits are lifted? “We will continue to utilize this platform whenever necessary,” she says. “We do not view it as a disruptor or threat, but rather as a way to bolster our practice.”

So far, Resnick says, patients have been receptive to and grateful for the new telehealth option. Previously, the practice’s doctors occasionally assessed common eye conditions by asking patients to text or email images of their eyes. 

“Patients are always looking to avoid the ‘inconvenience’ of an appointment or get a quick confirmation of self-diagnosis,” Resnick says.

FaceTime virtual visits "to hold us over"

Dr. Yuna Rapoport, an ophthalmologist in New York City, uses an app called CaptureProof for telemedicine consultations with patients in the COVID-19 era.

The app securely transmits information, photos and videos. She then virtually visits with patients through the FaceTime app.

Rapoport says telehealth enables diagnosis of common issues, such as a common eye infection or a stye . Other diagnoses might be practically impossible via telehealth, she adds, since she might need to use a slit lamp, a microscope, dilation or another tool to accurately identify a problem.

Telehealth is “useful during this time to hold us over,” Rapoport says, “but unfortunately it cannot replace eye doctor visits in the future because of the hands-on nature of our work.”

For example, during a virtual visit, there’s no way to measure intraocular pressure (which helps detect glaucoma ) or to look at a patient’s optic nerves and retinas.

EYE CARE TIP: If you opt for a telemedicine appointment with an ophthalmologist or optometrist, Rapoport recommends ensuring the doctor is using a telemedicine platform that complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and ask whether the doctor accepts health insurance or vision insurance to cover the cost. (Effective March 6, 2020, Medicare is temporarily covering telehealth services)

Virtual visits can’t replace in-office eye care

Dr. Benjamin Ticho, an ophthalmologist in Chicago Ridge, Illinois, says that aside from reducing exposure to the coronavirus, telemedicine makes eye care more convenient (no trip to an office, for instance) and might lead to a quicker diagnosis. 

He also notes that telemedicine reduces the quality of an eye exam because of the lack of pupil dilation and other in-office tests.

Ticho says he’s “not terribly enthusiastic” about remote eye exams because “there’s going to be too many mistakes.”

Plus, he adds, a telemedicine exam might diminish the “warmth and personality” of interaction between doctor and patient.

“For many patients, a good doctor visit is a pleasant social occasion, and for many doctors, that’s part of why we went into medicine,” Ticho says.

READ NEXT: Patients start to return to eye doctors

Page published on Thursday, March 26, 2020

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An innovative optometric practice that brings the office to you.

Long Island Optometry Care offers comprehensive eye care services in all settings. both in home as well as in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. For patients that are home bound or in a facility, we provide complete evaluations with the latest portable equipment. We are comfortable treating anyone, from those with special needs, to the elderly.

When glasses are prescribed, patients will have the ability to choose their own frame from a wide selection of fashionable eye-wear. Frame replacements are available and repairs can be done on site if needed. Our doctors can set up a mobile clinic virtually anywhere.

Follow-up care is maintained in our database by one of our highly qualified doctors and is based on the highest standards for medical protocol.

Between heart issues, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and more, there are plenty of health-related ailments to manage when it comes to residents in senior living. In such a crowded playing field, seniors’ ocular hygiene can fall to the wayside. Transportation to and from eye doctors offices, for one, proves problematic for senior living residents, as the task typically falls on their adult children. And costs can deter the receipt of such services. An innovative solution to the problem: Bringing the eye doctor to the seniors rather than the other way around.

We currently provide visiting eye care services to service Nassau and Suffolk Counties communities.

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Our mobile optometry practice is specially designed to give you the best exam possible in the comfort of your own home.

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Optician that does Home Visits Near Me

Do you qualify for a free home eye test nhs licensed opticians.

An Optician that does Home Visits Near Me ? Choose Templeman Opticians We Cover Essex! 

Discover Our Service Of Home Visit eye care & Benefit From Home visits & Free Eye Tests At Home .

Your Safety & Health Are Our Priority, All Measures In Place To Keep You Safe at all times. 

If you are elderly or medically housebound and cannot leave your place of residence or care, our  optician  and dispensing  optician  can  visit you call 01268 777729 today.

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Opticians that come to your home? How does it work?

Step 1 - Booking your home visit

Fill out the simple appointment form on the right of this page, well contact you either by email or telephone to confirm your booking and ask for your home address. 

Alternatively you can give us a call to find book your home visit appointment on 01268 777729.

step 2 - your eye test provided to you at home

Eye test to the same standard as high street Opticians.

Your  home visit will usually last for around 40/60 minutes.

An extremely thorough and comprehensive  eye examination  will be carried out by a fully qualified, NHS registered and DBS checked optometrist

The client’s home is easily transformed into a consulting room, allowing our visiting Optometrist to perform a full and comprehensive eye test at home.

step 3 - NHS support towards GLASSES & LENSES

Choosing your new glasses & lenses

Once your prescription has been determined, we’re able to offer tailor-made solutions. 

Should you require eyewear they’re in for a treat. As well as supplying a large range of spectacles, our opticians also carry a wide variety of brands with them when he makes visits.

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Book your eye test in home online or you can contact us by phone on 01268 777729 to find out more information on our services.

Our optician will come to your  home , explain and perform the  eye test , and talk to you about the results right then and there, so you can discuss your options

Fully Qualified Opticians For Free Home Visits.

Our team of mobile opticians provides a comprehensive eyecare service to those who cannot get to one of our stores unaccompanied 

our opticians are registered with the general optical council, the college of optometrists & all relevant NHS primary care trusts (PCT’s) .

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If you have any questions please call 01268 777729.

Frequently Asked Questions about Optician Home Visits

Am i eligble for an nhs funded eye test at home.

• Unable to leave home unaccompanied or
• Require a home visit on account of a physical or mental disability

And you fall into one of the categories for a free NHS sight test listed below:

• Aged 60 or over
• Under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education
• Registered blind or partially sighted
• Diagnosed as having diabetes or glaucoma
• 40 or over with a direct relative with glaucoma, or you have been advised by an ophthalmologist that you are at risk of glaucoma
• Prescribed a complex lens.

or you (or your partner) are receiving the following benefits or credits:

• Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (not contribution based)
• Working Tax Credit and are named on a Tax Credit NHS Exemption Certificate
• Child Tax Credit and are named on a Tax Credit NHS Exemption Certificate
• You are named on a NHS certificate for full or partial help with health costs (HC2/3)
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

We visit you at your home at a time convenient with you

you will receive a complete home eye examination and health check, usually taking between 30 to 50 mins.

After your eye test at home our optician will discuss the results and also give you a copy of your prescription.

With over 1000 different glasses frame styles, brands, variations, sizes and colours.

Do Experienced Mobile Opticians Carry out your eye health exam?

Our Home visiting opticians are fully qualified and experienced in conducting eye care & eye tests at home .

• You will always see the same friendly faces on your home Visit.
• None of our opticians or assistants work on commission base. 
• We believe you deserve expert eye care without a hurried service or pressure to deal with sales staff. 
• Our Friendly fully qualified optometrists bring a smile

Will my glasses be delivered and fitted at my home?

When your new glasses are ready you will receive a call from wendy arranging a date and time that’s convenient with you to deliver your new glasses.

Then you will receive another home visit to deliver them and ensure they fit comfortably from our dispensing optician.

Choosing your NHS Glasses & Lenses

Not everyone who has an home eye tests needs a new pair of glasses. However, if your prescription has changed or you’d like to update your glasses, you can choose from a wide range of frames and lenses in the comfort of your own home.

Your optometrist  will not rush you and will always make sure that they help you find the right pair of glasses that suits you best.

After this your opticians will discuss your different lens options and tell you the total price with no hidden extras. Using your NHS Optical Voucher could not be easier. 

Why Choose Us

Experienced team: experts in mobile eye examinations, award winning home best home visiting opticians team with quick appointments available.eye care professionals.

How an eye test at home works

Eye tests in the comfort of your own home

Choose from the Top Brands of Designer Glasses

How does a home visit work?

Better Tests Than Specsavers Home Visits?

Affordable Prices

Our Mobile Opticians service is designed to make eye care convenient, personalized, and comfortable. We value the importance of maintaining optimal eye health, and we believe that everyone should have access to quality eye care services.

Specialists with the Elderly

Whether you or your loved ones are elderly, housebound, or have limited mobility, we are committed to ensuring that you receive the same level of professional eye care without the need to leave your home.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Our dedicated team of optometrists and opticians will bring comprehensive eye care services directly to your doorstep.

With a firm commitment to professionalism and excellence, we are proud to be NHS registered and licensed, ensuring that you receive trusted and reliable eye care services. Our caring and compassionate team takes the time to understand your unique vision concerns and provide tailored solutions that align with your lifestyle and preferences.

Get In Touch

• Phone : +01268 777729
• Email : [email protected]
• Address : Woodfield Farm, Apton hall road, Stambridge, SS4 3RG, Essex
• Fill out contact form

Are you eligible for a home eye test?

Our team of specialist mobile opticians can come to those who can’t visit us in-store unaccompanied due to a physical or mental illness or disability.

In order to be eligible for a home visit, you or someone you know might:

have a condition that stops you from leaving your home unaccompanied due to poor health, or

be living with a diagnosed mental health condition that prevents you from leaving your home without the assistance of another person, or

be housebound or bedbound due to a physical disability

What do we mean by a physical or mental illness?

There are many conditions and reasons why someone might not able to leave their home unaccompanied. It’s best to talk to us about your situation so we can determine if you do meet the criteria, but to try and help make it a little clearer, here are a few examples. 

Conditions may include (but aren’t limited to):

• Cognitive impairment
• Severe arthritis
• A diagnosed mental illness
• A condition that affects your mobility
• A condition that affects your short term memory
• An illness that requires constant medication (for example, oxygen)
• A temporary medical reason prohibiting you from leaving your home (such as vertigo)
• A temporary illness that prevents a person from leaving the home unaccompanied
• A medical professional has advised you not to leave home without help

Whatever the reason is, if you or someone you know can’t leave the home without the assistance of another person, then get in touch to find out if you’re eligible to have a home eye test.

Who qualifies for a free home eye test?

Those who have a physical or mental illness which prevent you from leaving your home unaccompanied.

Those who are eligible for free NHS-funded eye tests by checking the criteria below.

The majority of our customers qualify for a free NHS-funded eye test. 

See if you do by checking if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Registered as partially sighted or blind
• Diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
• Considered to be at risk of glaucoma, as advised by an optician
• Aged 40 or over and have a family member diagnosed with glaucoma, or have a family history of glaucoma
• Receiving benefit*
• Entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
• Named on a valid NHS HC2 certificate (full help). Those named on an NHS HC3 certificate (partial help) may also get help with the cost of a private eye test
• Eligible for an NHS Complex Lens Voucher (your optician will advise on the entitlement)

*You’re also entitled if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you’re under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving: Income Support, Income-related Employment, and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.

Our team of specialist mobile opticians can come to those who can’t visit us in store unaccompanied due to a physical or mental illness or disability.

There are many conditions and reasons why someone might not able to leave their home unaccompanied. It’s best to talk to us about your situation so we can determine if you do meet the criteria, but to try and help make it a little clearer, here are a few examples. Conditions may include (but aren’t limited to):

Those who have a physical or mental illness which prevents you from leaving your home unaccompanied.

Those who are eligible for free NHS-funded eye test by checking the criteria below.

The majority of our customers qualify for a free NHS-funded eye test. See if you do by checking if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

*You’re also entitled if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you’re under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving: Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.

Who does not qualify for our home visit service?

No matter what condition you have, if you are physically able to leave your home on your own without needing help or assistance of another person, you will not qualify for a free NHS-funded home eye test.

We are also unable to visit patients in hospital.

Now Offering Video Telehealth Appointments!

Due to COVID-19 concerns, an in-office visit with us today could be very challenging for you, and in many cases, not feasible. We are committed to being there for you during this time, and we are proud to announce that we are now seeing patients for essential or emergent eye care via our Telehealth platform.

Telehealth complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and allows our office to tend to your eye care needs without the need for an in-office visit, and without potentially exposing anyone to COVID-19.

And You May Have Some Questions Like These

Q: What is a Telehealth consultation & how much is It? The fee for the visit is only $59. This is a private, secure, HIPAA-compliant and easy to use virtual visit—from the comfort of your own home—with your eye doctor.

Q. What is EyeCareLive? EyeCareLive is the App we are using for this telemedicine service. It is focused primarily on the eye and vision care. Our network of US-based, licensed doctors provide eye and vision care for conditions which can be diagnosed and treated remotely. Our Doctors use EyeCareLive and are well trained and experienced in treating conditions of the eye. If our doctors determine that your condition(s) requires immediate in-person treatment or follow up, they will refer you when possible to an eye care provider in your geographic area or an emergency/urgent care center if necessary.

Q. What can I use TeleHealth (EyeCareLive) for? You can consult our doctors for common eye conditions such as eye allergies, infections, swelling, dry eyes, systemic conditions that may affect the eyes, etc. You may also use EyeCareLive for follow up appointments or to connect with your doctor about ongoing issues and treatment. EyeCareLive is not designed for emergency care.

Silicon Valley Eye Physicians is part of the EyeCareLive is a network of US-based, licensed Optometrist and Ophthalmologists and uses their App to give you more options when booking an appointment.

Q: How do I request a Telehealth consultation? Go to https://doctors.eyecarelive.com/patient/

• If you are a new user, please register.
• If you are a returning user, you can login as usual.
• Email us if you are having any difficulty at [email protected]

Q: What are we unable to do via Telehealth? We are unable to:

• Conduct a routine eye exam
• Perform a contact lens fitting

Q: What happens after I request a Telehealth consultation? We will reach out to you directly to learn more about your condition and determine if a Telehealth consultation is the right step. If it is the right step, we will collect your insurance and payment information, and then set up the date and time of your Telehealth consultation.

Q: How does the Telehealth technology work? A smartphone with a camera is required for your consultation with us. Smartphones are now capable of very high-resolution cameras that are adequate for taking quality pictures and videos that doctors can use to diagnose most of the conditions.

Q: What is essential or emergent eye care? Emergent or essential eye care deals with eye emergencies and other urgent eye issues such as:

• Eye infection, blurred vision, loss of vision, itching eyes, red eye, pink eye, scratched eye, stye and irritation
• Follow up visits for contact lens, dry eye, post-op and more
• Remote monitoring of conditions

Q. Can I follow-up with Telehealth if my condition doesn’t improve? After your visit with us via EyeCareLive, your doctor may follow-up with you through the app to ensure you are following the recommended treatment plan and are taking all prescribed medication. If your condition doesn’t improve, you may notify your doctor through the app and they will be in touch with you for further evaluation.

Q. Can I get prescriptions or a prescription refill? Our doctors have the ability to call a prescription into your preferred pharmacy or refill your current medications as needed. Fees may apply.

Q. What if my conditions can’t be treated remotely? Your doctor will make the best effort possible to diagnose your eye condition and provide treatment options. If your condition cannot be thoroughly diagnosed on a video call, they may ask to see you in the office or refer you to an eye doctor in your area for an in-person visit. If our doctors feel emergency care is necessary, you will be referred to an ER or doctor who specializes in care for your specific condition. In either case, your doctor may follow up with you after your visit. Is my personal, health, and credit card information secure through the app?

Q. Why am I being asked to pay for this remote visit when I have insurance ? EyeCareLive is not contracted with insurance panels. The fee of $59 is much less than most Urgent Care/ ER visit copays.

• Professional Eyecare

• Eye Health /

Home Visits

An eye test at home.

At Partridge Opticians we appreciate that not everyone is able to come into the Practice for an eye examination. If you find yourself in that position we can bring our service to you with a home visit.

Our home visits are available for people in their own homes or for those in residential care.

Using the latest portable equipment we can provide a complete eye examination in the comfort of your own home, or in the residential care home where you are staying.

Each part of the examination will be explained clearly to you and we will explain the results of your eye examination. If you need new glasses we will help you choose from our wide range of frames.

NHS optical vouchers

If you are entitled to an NHS Optical Voucher, you can put this towards the cost of your new glasses. Depending on your circumstance you may also be entitled to a free eye test.

Entitlement to free NHS eye tests

• Aged under 16
• Aged 16, 17 or 18 in full time education
• Aged 60 or over
• Diagnosed with Diabetes or Glaucoma
• Considered to be at risk of Glaucoma (as advised by an ophthalmologist)
• Aged 40 or over and the parent, brother, sister, son or daughter of a person diagnosed with Glaucoma
• Registered blind or partially sighted
• Eligible for an NHS Complex Lens Voucher (your optician will advise on your entitlement)
• Claiming Universal Credit (Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or receiving Tax Credits and meeting qualifying conditions)
• On a low Income and named on a valid HC2 (full help) or HC3 (partial help) certificate

Only those included in the above group are entitled to NHS-funded home visits. However, private home visits are also available.

To learn more or enquire about a home visit please phone us on  01952 811750

Contact lenses.

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How Long Is Optometry School?

Curious about pursuing a career in optometry? Get a clear understanding of the path to becoming an optometrist and gain insights into the world of eye care.

To see the world through the eyes of an optometrist, you must go to school. But, this doesn’t need to be a daunting task to accomplish. Assessing and correcting vision and preventing blindness is an important responsibility—one that must be trained for properly.

In the simplest terms, an optometrist is a type of eye doctor who provides general eye care to patients. 

This type of eye doctor: 

• Evaluates a patient’s vision through testing.
• Diagnosis conditions like farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.
• Gives patients eye therapy to improve vision.
• Finds eye injuries that require treatment.
• Prescribes corrective lenses.
• Prescribes eye medications. 

Does this sound like a role you’d be interested in studying? Continue reading to learn more about becoming an optometrist at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). Use this blog as your guide to all things optometry. We’ll go over how long optometry school is, what students can anticipate, and the various styles of optometry. We’ll also answer common questions prospective first-year students have.

What Can An Optometry Student Expect?

To become a licensed optometrist, you must complete a pre-professional undergraduate education in a college or university and go through an additional four years of professional education at a college of optometry, earning a Doctor of Optometry degree. 

Applying to MCPHS

The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers two optometry programs for your optometric education: the Bachelor of Science in Premedical Health Studies, Optometry Pathway, which enables students to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Premedical Health Studies (BS) and a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree  in seven years instead of the traditional eight, or the four-year Doctor of Optometry program .

Applying To the Premedical Health Studies Optometry Pathway (BS/OD)

• Application: Either fill out the Common App or MCPHS Application and answer University-specific questions.
• Transcripts: Include all official transcripts from attended secondary schools as well as your first-quarter grades from your senior year of high school.
• Essay: If applying with the Common App, you should write and submit an essay following one of the provided topic choices. 
• Letter of recommendation: You’re required to send one letter of recommendation from a guidance counselor, math teacher, or science teacher. Ensure this letter is written on the official school letterhead and submitted through the application portal.
• Test scores: While our school doesn’t require you to share your SAT or ACT scores, it is an optional part of the application. If you choose to submit your scores, you must directly send them from the College Board or ACT. 

Applying for the Doctor of Optometry Program

After applying to the university, incoming students must submit a completed OptomCAS application and submit :

• A grade point average of 3.0.
• All official college or university transcripts.
• A completed 90 semester hours of 135 quarter hours prior to matriculation.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• The official OAT Score Report or GRE Score Report.
• Official AP or CLEP Scores if applicable.
• Proof of English language proficiency if English isn’t your primary language.

Once you fill out your application, you’re off to the races! 

Optometry Through Your Seven Years

At MCPHS, we offer excellent training for students pursuing a career in eye care. If you’re coming as an undergraduate, you’ll start by getting your Bachelor of Science in Premedical Health Studies - Optometry Pathway (BS/OD) . This three-year program enables you to earn a bachelor of science in just three years. After completing the undergraduate program, you’ll begin the Doctor of Optometry (OD) program—a full-time, four-year degree program. In total, you’ll be able to gain the necessary schooling in only seven years, which is less than the average eight years that other colleges often offer. 

Bachelor of Science in Premedical Health Studies - Optometry Pathway

Before diving into the world of optometry, you must have a firm understanding of the sciences and humanities necessary to move on to the professional phase of your training. Here’s what you can expect from your three years in the Bachelor of Science in Premedical Health Sciences  program. 

The beginning of your three-year undergraduate path will include several foundational classes like biology and chemistry. You’ll also get hands-on learning experience through associated labs and a deep knowledge of human psychology and expository writing.

Your second year will pick up where you left off by building on your humanities and behavioral science classes from the previous year. You’ll be able to take electives and study organic chemistry and physics. This year will focus on creating further comprehension of optometry as a profession and help you build interpersonal communication skills that are critical for the job. 

The last year of your undergraduate degree will be a time for you to look at healthcare ethics, and study advanced anatomy, cellular biochemistry, physiology, medical microbiology, and physics. You’ll also look at social and behavioral sciences to prepare for the next step of your degree. After completing every required elective and participating in a semester-long Premedical Health Studies Capstone seminar, you’ll interview for admission into the Doctor of Optometry program . 

Pass the Optometry Admission Test

Taking part in an optometry program requires you to pass the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). This computerized exam evaluates what you’ve learned throughout your undergraduate experience, including science knowledge, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning. 

As part of your application for the MCPHS Doctor of Optometry program, you’ll have to submit a copy of your results from this exam after receiving the required marks. 

Doctor of Optometry

Once you’re accepted into the MCPHS Doctor of Optometry program, you’ll advance to the four-year professional phase to wrap up your education before you begin working as an eye care specialist. 

In your first year of the Doctor of Optometry program at MCPHS, your professors will help you learn essential and foundational information about optometry theory, pharmacology, anatomy, and physiology. You’ll also complete labs that go through the theories and methods of optometry. Because this job will take place in a clinical setting, you’ll also learn how to examine patients and professionally function on the job. 

In your second year, you’ll work through more advanced optometry theories and methods through a variety of class styles and lab work. You’ll participate in primary care clinics and be exposed to real-world work through our affiliated community health center clinics. The Eye and Vision Center at MCPHS  is a fantastic place for you to work alongside experienced faculty and provide patient care in the Worcester area. You’ll work as an intern to provide high-quality care and get hands-on experience. 

Your third year will be your time to study pediatric and geriatric optometry, research and statistical methods, public health, and optometry practice and management. These semesters will also include an online clinical seminar that will cover additional educational topics necessary for deep insight into the field. 

Your fourth and final year of the doctorate program will include three 16-week rotations through a variety of patient care experiences. This will be your chance to explore specialty opportunities, including at community health centers, Veteran Affairs (VAs) sites, military bases, and private practices. 

Getting Your License

Working as an optometrist requires you to pass all four parts of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry assessment after you earn your Doctor of Optometry. This is a national requirement, but the state you reside in may have additional exams you must pass before you can legally practice. 

What Are the Different Types of Optometry

Students have an opportunity to explore specialties during their optometry training. While general optometry is definitely an option for you, there may be a more niche area of eye care that you discover during your years of school that is a better fit for you. 

When you become an optometrist, you have the chance to choose a specific focus. Some common specialties include:

• General optometry.
• Family practice optometry.
• Cornea and contact lenses. 
• Geriatric optometry.
• Pediatric optometry.
• Low vision rehabilitation.
• Binocular vision and vision therapy.
• Eye disease.
• Sports vision optometry. 
• Community health. 
• Brain injury vision rehabilitation. 

General Optometry 

This is the most common choice, where optometrists provide comprehensive eye exams, prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses, and diagnose and manage various eye conditions such as myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia, and presbyopia. 

Family Practice Optometry

A family practice optometrist specializes in comprehensive eye care services for patients of all ages, from infants to seniors. Like a general optometrist, this industry professional diagnoses, treats, and manages a wide range of eye and vision conditions. 

Cornea and Contact Lenses

Those who specialize in contact lenses and cornea treatment have the ability to fit and manage contact lenses for various vision needs. They see patients with astigmatism and presbyopia, and they prescribe specialty lenses for orthokeratology. 

Geriatric Optometry

Geriatric optometrists work with older individuals with age-related conditions that often can’t be corrected with standard eyeglasses or contacts alone. These doctors provide devices, strategies, and support to help people maximize their remaining vision. 

Pediatric Optometry 

On the opposite side of the age spectrum, pediatric optometry specialists work with children to diagnose and manage vision problems, such as amblyopia, strabismus, and other developmental issues. 

Low Vision Rehabilitation

Low-vision optometrists work with individuals with a significant vision impairment that cannot be fully corrected with standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, or medical treatment. These professionals work with patients to find strategies and support to make their vision situation easier to manage. 

Binocular Vision and Vision Therapy

These optometrists deal with problems related to how the two eyes work together—which is often referred to as binocular vision. They provide vision therapy to help patients improve eye coordination, focusing abilities, and other visual skills. 

Eye Disease

If you want to specifically work to diagnose and treat a wide range of ocular diseases, then an eye disease specialist would be a great path for you. Some of the most common diseases include glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. 

Sports Vision Optometry

Sports vision optometrists work with a variety of athletes to enhance their visual skills, such as depth perception, peripheral awareness, and hand-eye coordination to improve their performance in their designated sport. 

Community Health

A community health optometrist—or a public health optometrist—focuses on advocating for and promoting eye health within different communities or cities. These professionals highlight the need for equal access to eye care services, providing education about preventative measures and eye safety, as well.

Brain Injury Vision Rehabilitation 

Brain injury optometrists specifically work to evaluate and manage visual problems resulting from neurological conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and other neurological disorders. 

Job Outlook and Salary

Unfortunately for your future patients, vision problems will always be an issue that people have to face. But this means there will be a constant need for optometrists anywhere in the country—and throughout the world. 

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are about 1,700 expected openings for optometrists annually . As people move jobs or retire, new opportunities open up for recent graduates to enter the field. 

Your salary will ultimately depend on what specialty you have, what location you end up in, and a few other factors, but eye doctors are generally paid a very high salary. On average in the U.S., optometrists make about $133,100 per year , as reported by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, earning them a comfortable living with benefits.

Optometry-Focused FAQs

Jumping into a program that will get you closer to becoming an optometrist is a big step. You may still have some questions about what to expect during your education. Here are some common inquiries:

How many years does it take to become an optometrist in the U.S.?

It depends on the school you choose, but most colleges require you to do eight years—four in an undergraduate and four in a graduate program. However, MCPHS students can graduate in seven years, with the undergraduate program only taking three years. While you can choose to still take eight years, many students opt for the more accelerated path to get into the workforce faster. 

What skills are necessary to become an optometrist?

In addition to deep expertise in science and technical skills, eye doctors need soft skills to have a great working partnership with their colleagues and patients. They should be good listeners and communicators, and they should be able to empathize with people and pay attention to what those seeking their care need. On top of that, optometrists must be quick on their feet and be able to quickly problem-solve. 

What does an optometrist’s work environment look like?

Typically, optometrists work full-time hours in independent optometry practices, corporate vision centers, general care doctor’s offices, or pediatric centers. Most of their days are spent looking at patients in exam rooms, using specialized tools to test patients’ vision, fitting people for glasses or contact lenses, or coming up with strategic solutions to people’s vision problems. Most optometrists have fast-paced, busy schedules, seeing several patients daily. However, others choose to limit their availability to enable a slower work style.

Studying Optometry at MCPHS

In a 2022 U.S. News and World Report, optometry ranked the 13th best healthcare job . If you’re interested in joining a blooming medical field, you’ve come to the right place. MCPHS is an established leader in health and life sciences education, with a record of producing job-ready graduates. 

Apply to MCPHS to get started in a long and illustrious career in eye care. 

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Watch CBS News

Did you look at the solar eclipse too long? Doctors explain signs of eye damage

By Sara Moniuszko

Edited By Allison Elyse Gualtieri

Updated on: April 8, 2024 / 3:42 PM EDT / CBS News

Did you look up at the solar eclipse without your safety glasses ? Looking at the sun — even when it's partially covered like during the eclipse on April 8 — can cause eye damage.

There is no safe dose of solar ultraviolet rays or infrared radiation, said  Dr. Yehia Hashad , an ophthalmologist, retinal specialist and the chief medical officer at eye health company Bausch + Lomb.

"A very small dose could cause harm to some people," he said. "That's why we say the partial eclipse could also be damaging. And that's why we protect our eyes with the partial as well as with the full sun."

But how do you know if you've hurt your vision? We asked eye doctors what to know.

Is it a sign of eye damage if your eyes hurt after looking at the eclipse?

Your eyes likely won't hurt if you look at the eclipse without protection — but that doesn't make it any less dangerous.

In fact, the painlessness is part of why the event is so concerning to eye care professionals, said Dr. Jason P. Brinton, an ophthalmologist and medical director at Brinton Vision in St. Louis. 

"Everyone knows don't look at the sun. If you go out on a bright day and try to look at the sun — it's very uncomfortable, very bright. So most people intuitively associate that with something they should not be doing," Brinton said. "But with the eclipse, so much of that is blocked and so that natural sense of discomfort and aversion to the brightness is not there."

In some cases, the sun can also damage the cornea, which can be painful, Brinton says.

"The good news is that this fully heals without lasting issues, so this is why we don't think about this aspect as much. The retinal issues, on the other hand, are painless and can have permanent, lasting effects on vision," he said.

What are other signs of eye damage from looking at a solar eclipse?

Hashad says there are a few "alarming signals" to be aware of, including: 

• Blurred vision
• Scotomas, or dark spots: "You just see a black area or a black spot in the field of vision," Hashad said. 
• Color changes:  "You don't see the colors the same way you were seeing it before," he said.
• Distorted lines:  Hashad says this is clinically known as metamorphopsia, which makes lines appear warped, distorted or bent.

"This could be happening unilateral or bilateral," he said. "So it doesn't necessarily happen in both eyes. It could be affecting one over the other or both eyes together."

Issues may not be apparent immediately, either, sometimes appearing one to a few days following the event.

And while some will regain normal visual function, sometimes the damage is permanent. 

"Often there will be some recovery of the vision in the first few months after it, but sometimes there is no recovery and sometimes there's a degree to which it is permanent," Brinton said. 

What should you do if you show symptoms of eye damage?

If you're experiencing any symptoms of eye damage, Hashad suggested people "immediately" seek an ophthalmologist's advice.

"Seeing an eye care professional to solidify the diagnosis and for education I think is reasonable," Brinton said. 

Unfortunately, there isn't a treatment for solar retinopathy, the official name for the condition.

"Right now there is nothing that we do for this. Just wait and give it time and the body does tend to heal up a measure of it," Brinton explained.

That is why prevention is so important, and remains the "mainstay of treatment of solar retinopathy or solar damage to the retina," Hashad explained. 

How long is too long to look at a solar eclipse without glasses?

Any amount of time looking at the solar eclipse without glasses is too long, experts said.

"Damage from the solar eclipse could happen to the retina in seconds," Hashad said. "That's why we don't want people to stare even for a short period of time — even if for a few seconds to the direct sun — whether eclipsed or even partially eclipsed."

Sara Moniuszko is a health and lifestyle reporter at CBSNews.com. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, where she was selected to help launch the newspaper's wellness vertical. She now covers breaking and trending news for CBS News' HealthWatch.

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