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Our Optical Services
Find out more about the comprehensive selection of clinical services that we offer below.
If you are struggling to find what you are looking for, please contact us and a member of our friendly staff will be happy to help and advise.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
At Staples, we pride ourselves on providing the very best level of eyecare and to this end, we have enhanced our ability to do this by investing in OCT, Optical Coherence Tomography. With our new state-of-the-art OCT machinery, we are able to take an image of the very back of your eyes, including the retinal layers. This allows us to study your eyes in greater detail from the surface of your retina right down to the underlying surfaces, not visible by any other means.
An OCT scan is comparable to an ultrasound scan for the eyes and can form a 3D cross-section of the retina, allowing our Optometrists to see, sometimes for the first time, problems within your eye that could not easily be seen before.
The OCT uses the most advanced technology to detect abnormalities at an incredibly early stage. This helps us to check for eye conditions such as Glaucoma, Retinopathy, Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Retinal Detachments and much more.
The great thing is that the test is totally non-invasive and in most cases can be done in a few minutes. Our Optometrists will then go through this with you during your eye examination and be able to offer you the most comprehensive test to date.
Minor Eye Conditions Services (MECS)
Our new MECS service is now available. The service is an alternative to Accident & Emergency for the diagnosis and treatment of minor eye conditions. MECS can be accessed on a self-referral basis or alternatively, your GP may refer you onto MECS if appropriate. Please note that this service is not an eyesight test.
Some conditions that can be treated by the service include:
• Red eyes
• Ingrown eyelashes
• Dry eyes, gritty and uncomfortable eyes
• Irritation and inflammation of the eye
• Significant recent discharge from the eye or watery eyes
• Recently occurring or sudden increase of flashes and floaters
• Painful eyes
• Recent and sudden reduced vision
• Something in your eye
Children's Eyecare
Regular visits to the Optician allows our qualified and experienced Optometrists to spot any potential problems at an early stage. As with the majority of medical conditions, the sooner eye problems are diagnosed the more likely they are to be successfully treated, therefore we advise that a first eye examination takes place no later than their 4th birthday. Earlier examinations are recommended if you have any concerns or if there is a history of lazy eye or squint.
Our Optometrists are experienced in assessing children's eyesight and will make the best possible course of action needed. Your child will receive an NHS eye examination when necessary up until 16 years old and thereafter if they remain in full-time education up to the age of19.
Letter Test Chart
This is the chart that first springs to mind when most people think of the Opticians. The test chart features a series of letters which get smaller as you read each new line. This quick and easy test is useful to identify if there are any issues with your eyesight.
For children who cannot read or even respond to any question, we can use a Retinoscope which gives us an objective assessment of the prescription. This tells us whether there is any significant error that needs early correction and in most cases reassures us everything is within normal limits.
As children get older they can match letters on a card to different sized letters we show them. Older still and we can show them pictures of common objects – cars, yachts, aeroplanes and so on. On top of all that there are other sensitive tests to check both eyes work together and that colour vision is within normal limits.
Visual Fields Machine
Vision is often measured by how far down the letter chart we can read correctly. But another very important part of our everyday experience of life is our awareness of the things further out in our peripheral vision. This wider visual awareness is known as our visual field.
Sadly there are some conditions that cause us to lose some or part of our field of vision, the most common of which is Glaucoma. Any condition that affects the nerve of the eye or the brain like strokes or trauma can also result in a loss of areas of peripheral vision.
As a result, we carry out routine checks for those at risk of loss of side vision.
Eye Examinations
We take eye tests very seriously at Staples, therefore, your eye examination will be thoroughly conducted using state-of-the-art equipment and lead by our highly experienced team.
We pride ourselves in getting to know our patients, which then, in turn, allows us to tailor each eye exam to the specific individual.