Eye examinations

Eye care professionals  review a patient's medical history and use a wide variety of tests and procedures to examine a patient's eyes during routine eye examinations. The tests range from straightforward (e.g reading an eye chart) to complex (involving high-powered lenses to visualise tiny structures inside the eye). Eye examinations tend to last from half an hour to an hour.  This can be dependent on the number and complexity of tests required for your eyes.  Depending on the results of the tests there are there are three possible outcomes. These are:

• no medical or corrective action needs to be taken
  
  
• a prescription for glasses needs to be issued
  
  
• a medical procedure may need to be carried out.

On 1st April 2006, a new NHS eye examination was introduced and entitlement was extended to all in Scotland. The traditional NHS "sight test" has been replaced by a comprehensive eye examination appropriate to the patient's needs. An initial eye examination is carried out (primary eye examination) and where necessary this is followed by a second eye examination (secondary eye examination).

Information on eye examinations for each NHS Board for financial year ending 31st March 2007 can be accessed via the links below.

Eye examinations by type and NHS Board

Percentage breakdown of eye examinations

Eye examinations by referral type