Having an eye test (easy read)
Advice on having an eye test for people with learning disabilities.
![Optician](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician%20looking%20%282%29_0.png?itok=fL8kB_1m)
The people who test your eyes are called opticians.
![Optician](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician.png?itok=N-fN8Na3)
They are also called optometrists.
![Eye test](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician%20eye%20test2%20%284%29_0.png?itok=kluoLiby)
Having your eyes checked is called an eye test, an eye examination, or a sight test.
![Yearly](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Yearly%20%283%29.png?itok=oLna0f59)
You should have an eye test every year.
![Eye test](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician%20eye%20test1%20%281%29_0.png?itok=XmlUCk7q)
Your optician will tell you if you need your eyes checked more often.
![Group of people](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Group%2032.png?itok=hSRbHPuU)
Everyone can have their eyes tested.
![Blind person](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Deaf-Blind%20Guide.png?itok=nUO7wdrU)
You don’t have to be able to read or speak to have an eye test.
![Different eye tests](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Reasonable%20Adjustments%20%281%29.png?itok=ehvMlVoP)
There are different ways to have an eye test.
![Person in a wheelchair](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Calvin%201%20%281%29.png?itok=d5igHBjK)
Everyone can have an eye test – you don’t need to be able to read or speak.
![Free](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Free%20%28Money%29_0.png?itok=tyd_0is3)
Many people can get free eye tests.
![Child](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Jack%203.png?itok=590NJwBe)
You might be able to get a free eye test if:
You are under the age of 16.
![Student](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/College%20Student.png?itok=Js-Vrlf1)
You are under 19 and in full-time education.
![Elderly person](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/elderly.png?itok=6uvmWCS7)
You are aged 60 or over.
![Blind person](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Tony%202.png?itok=3VZp-pjR)
You are registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired.
![Diabetes](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Diabetes%20test3%20%281%29_1.png?itok=x3FNXO5w)
You have diabetes.
Diabetes is a health problem that can affect your eyesight.
![Glaucoma](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/glaucoma_1.jpg?itok=H3EIGRsp)
You have glaucoma.
Glaucoma is an eye problem that could stop you seeing properly.
![Mother and daughter](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Mother%20Daughter%201%20%281%29.png?itok=fa3YXaq1)
You are over the age of 40 and someone in your close family has glaucoma.
![Family](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Household%207.png?itok=K27HUjrG)
This could be your mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter.
![Optician](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician_0.png?itok=-vj-Awks)
Your eye doctor has told you that you are at risk of glaucoma.
![Benefits](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Benefits_0.png?itok=oDYDzqiZ)
Or if you receive some benefits like Income Support.
![Healthy eye](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Eye%20%282%29_0.png?itok=4fMXR1fL)
An eye test can check if your eyes are healthy.
![Diabetes](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Diabetes%20nurse2.png?itok=g1D6qmjz)
An eye test also checks for health problems like diabetes.
![10 times more likely](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/10x.png?itok=C6-GBxre)
Adults with a learning disability are 10 times more likely to have a serious sight problem than other people.
![Good eyesight](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Read2.png?itok=zBSyMoli)
An eye test can check that your eyesight is okay.
![Glasses](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Glasses%20%282%29_0.png?itok=let9KaDm)
And whether you need new glasses.
![Happy person with glasses](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Thumbs%20up%20%282%29.png?itok=kaZpQQf-)
Wearing the right glasses can help you to see better.
![Communication](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Communication%201%20%281%29_0.png?itok=Lc4l5Gda)
Good eyesight can help us to communicate and be independent.
![Choose an optician](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Choose%20Care%20Home%20%282%29.png?itok=ao6yOey3)
You can choose to have an eye test at any optician.
![Supporter](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Supporter%20%282%29_0.png?itok=c2Jjxw9I)
You can take a supporter with you for your eye test.
![Home](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Place%20my%20house%202_0.png?itok=InrIkOBD)
There are opticians who can visit you at home.
You can ask your optician about this.
![Eye test](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Eyetest1%20%283%29_0.png?itok=RjfbXFUB)
The optician will talk with you about your eyes and your eyesight.
![Health passport](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Mother%20Child%20Forms_0.png?itok=_P0FHRcY)
You can take your Health Passport to show the optician.
![Eye test](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician%20eye%20test1%20%281%29_2.png?itok=nKn1hTWi)
The optician will look at your eyes to see if they are healthy.
![Getting close](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Eyedrops%201_0.png?itok=xediitIJ)
The optician will need to get close to you to do this.
![Light in eyes](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Light%20eyes_0.png?itok=TkN96tUp)
The optician will use a light to look at your eyes.
![Dark](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Dark%20area_0.png?itok=0jBv1P2x)
For some parts of the eye test the room will be dark.
![Following a light](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/light_0.jpg?itok=Bke1gjVe)
The optician may ask you to follow a light with your eyes.
![Eye](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Eye%20%282%29_2.png?itok=2IAQuJAz)
This helps them check how your eyes move when you look at things.
![Eye test pictures](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician%20eye%20test4%20%282%29.png?itok=VW0SodL-)
The optician will ask you to look at objects, pictures or letters.
![Point](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Point12_0.png?itok=G6JGqsKM)
You can use words, signing, pointing or other ways to say what you see.
![Supporter](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Friends%20signing_0.png?itok=5Gy42BEP)
Your supporter can help you to communicate what you see.
![Not talking](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Not%20Talking%204_0.png?itok=vQxPiLBA)
You might not be able say or sign what the objects, pictures or letters are. But that is okay!
![Eye test](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Eyetest1%20%282%29.png?itok=95O3xkiN)
The optician can still test your eyes by watching how you look at things with your eyes.
![Test frame](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/test%20frame.jpg?itok=sY6dDqcq)
The optician will put a ‘test frame’ on your face.
![Holding up lenses](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Adam%20Smith%202_0.jpg?itok=5verxNQm)
If you can’t wear test frames, the optician can hold the lenses for you to look through.
![Blurred vision](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/blur.png?itok=fBJXBck5)
They will put different lenses in the test frame to check which lenses help you see clearly.
![Clear vision](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/no%20blur.png?itok=2RNIXiEE)
Some lenses will make you see more clearly.
![Holding an object](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Adam%20Smith%20thumb.jpg?itok=NpLnKMsT)
The optician will test how well you see things at the side of your vision.
![Eye drops](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Eyedrops%202%20%281%29.png?itok=cfSDw7kr)
The optician may ask to put drops in your eyes.
![Looking at eyes](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Optician%20eye%20test2%20%284%29_2.png?itok=nbDfZaqp)
The drops help the optician to see inside your eyes.
![Uncomfortable eyes](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Cry%203.png?itok=n0V8ub9n)
It might feel uncomfortable.
![Optician's machine](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Lee%20Doyle%202%20thumb.jpg?itok=vs7u9Kz-)
The optician might use a machine to blow air onto your eye or touch your eye gently.
![Glaucoma](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/glaucoma_2.jpg?itok=hg6tbhJG)
This helps test for a serious eye problem called glaucoma.
![Uncomfortable eyes](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Cry%203_0.png?itok=fJ1B8s7C)
It might feel uncomfortable but this test is important.
![Eye test results](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/GP%20Doctor%207%20%281%29.png?itok=G-tSiXR6)
After your eye test the optician will tell you about your eye sight and whether you need new glasses.
![Prescription](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Prescription1.png?itok=cdWI3djU)
They will give you a piece of paper called a prescription.
![Choose optician](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Choose%20support3.png?itok=zhz2Wfn8)
If the optician says you need new glasses you can get these from any optician you choose.
![Eye doctor](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/GP%20Doctor%209%20%281%29_0.png?itok=b_-dKfth)
If the optician has found that you have an eye problem, they might tell you to see an eye doctor.
![Form](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Form%20white%20%283%29.png?itok=69QEYyEP)
We have a form you can take to your appointment called About me and my eyes.
![Eye test goes well](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/well.png?itok=PxNYTZ51)
It tells the optician about you so your eye test goes well.
![Results of my eye test form](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Bank%20form2.png?itok=gKYsZm6G)
We have a form called Results of my eye test.
Your optician can fill this out.
![Form](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Blank%20Paper%20Child.png?itok=Sox_WHQD)
The form will help you understand the results of your eye test.
![Health Action Plan](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Health%20Action%20Plan%201.png?itok=tX_VuKVA)
If you have a health action plan you can add information about your eye test to it.
![Sharing information](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_tile/public/2023-10/Group%2051.png?itok=rlWb289S)
It is important to share information about your eyesight with others.