Victoria J Smith Opticians

Email Us

0114 2621955

Eye Examination

The eye examination is carried out by our optometrist, Victoria J Smith and usually takes about 30 minutes (but may take longer if extra tests are required).

Why you should have your eyes tested?

Regular eye examinations should be a feature of your ongoing health care, not only to ensure the best possible level of vision and visual comfort but because they provide a valuable opportunity for the early detection of eye disorders such as glaucoma, cataracts and macula degeneration and other disorders such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

How often should I have my eyes tested?

Most people should have their eyes tested once every two years and if you have Dementia it is possible for the Optometrist to adjust the eye examination so they can prescribe and update any glasses you may need. An eye examination will also detect any eye conditions such as Cataracts or Glaucoma and it is an important first step in treating these conditions and avoiding sight loss.

The eye examination will normally include the the following elements:

1. History & Symptoms

This will establish your visual problems or symptoms that you may be experiencing.

Information regarding your medical history as medical conditions and medications can affect your eyes.

Family medical history as certain eye conditions can be passed down the generations.

You will be asked about previous spectacles/contact lenses. Additional information which will help your practitioner to make an accurate assessment includes your occupation, whether you play sports or have any hobbies.

2. Visual efficiency and prescription analysis

Remember to bring your spectacles or contact lenses with you when you attend for an eye examination.

Your unaided vision is measured; your vision in your current spectacles is measured; a new prescription is determined and any visual improvement is established. The cooperation between your eyes is assessed to ensure that both eyes are working together and that undue stress is not being placed on the eye muscles. Good muscle balance is particularly important for those who use computers or read for prolonged periods.

3. Examining the Eye

Yours eyes will be examined both externally and internally. This will enable the an assessment to be made of the health of the eyes and may identify any other underlying medical problems. Your pupil reflexes will also be tested.

4. Supplementary Tests

Other tests that may be carried out if necessary include for example those for glaucoma or colour vision deficiency. If you are over 40, the pressure inside your eye will be tested (which may be done with a puff of air or using drops to gently numb your eyes) and checking your visual fields to ensure you don't have any abnormal blind spots.

5. Summary of the Eye Examination

We will now have a detailed knowledge of the health of your eyes, the standard of your vision and any special requirements that you may have. This information will be explained to you but if you do not understand anything or require more information, ask Victoria J Smith who will be only too happy to help. You will also have the opportunity to discuss the best forms of vision correction to suit your individual lifestyle and visual needs.

At the end of the examination you will be advised on the appropriate interval until your next eye examination or if you need medical treatment for an eye condition you may be referred to your doctor or hospital.

6. Eye examinations for people with Dementia

If you are thinking of having an eye examination and you have dementia then the following may help:
a. Let the Receptionist know about the dementia at the time you book your appointment.
b. Book your eye test at a time of day that suits you best.
c. You might want to invite your Carer or someone who knows you well to come with you to the test.
d. Let the Optometrist know how well you can answer questions or follow instructions.

OCT Scan & OPTOMAP Retinal Imaging

3D OCT Scan (Optical Coherence Tomography)

The health of your eye matters to you and it matters to us too which is why we are offering OCT to all of our patients.

Seeing beneath the surface of the eye is essential to the health of your eye .3D OC T screening can detect potentially serious conditions that can affect your eyesight and your overall health.

It uses light to image the different layers that make up the structures at the front and the back of the eye and captures a photograph and a cross sectional scan of the eye at the same time. This allows both instant and early diagnosis of a number of common ocular conditions. The scan is non invasive, painless, simple and quick. It can detect the most subtle changes to the retina with every eye test and give an invaluable ongoing record of the health and condition of your eyes. The common conditions identified through regular OCT screening include age related macular degeneration, diabetes, glaucoma, vitreous detachments, macular holes and more.

The recommendation is you have an OCT scan at every eye test with any future scans can be compared with previous ones for comparative diagnosis

Optomap ultra-widefield retinal imaging

Your eyes are a window to your health. The optomap ultra wide digital retinal imaging system helps us make informed decisions about your eye health and overall well beinghealth and overall being . Normally the optometrists examines the back of your eye through your pupil, this can be effective but difficult to perform and carried out manually without any digital record.The optomap ultra wide digital retinal imaging system captures more than 80% of your retina in one panoramic image. Traditional methods typically reveal only 10 to 15% of your retina at one time. This enhances our ability to detect even the earliest signs of disease that appear on your retina. Seeing most of the retina at once allows your optometrist more time to review your images and educate you about your eye health.

The recommendation is you have optomap retinal imaging every time you have an eye examination this will ensure you have a digital record of your retinal health on file which can be compared for changes overtime.The Optomap only takes a few seconds to perform and is not painful and typically does not require eye drops.

We recommend you combine both OCT & Optomap ultra wide field retinal imaging at every eye test – this is available for £49

Contact Lenses

We are now part of the Contact lens recycle programme

Don't forget to recycle any brand of your contact lenses, blister packs and foil -bring them to the practice and place them into our recycling box - we will do the rest!

Victoria J Smith Opticians has a robust contact lens practice with 100's of very happy contact lens patients. Victoria J Smith, has over 20 years experience at fitting contact lenses and is experienced at fitting contact lenses to people of all ages, from children as young as 9 to grandparents who are now wearing contact lenses for the first time.

Please ask about home delivery of your contact lenses.

Victoria J Smith Opticians is an independently owned opticians. Unlike some practices, we are not tied to providing own-brand or a limited range of contact lenses and can recommend the contact lens that is the very best for you and your vision, not just the lens from the range they have available.

We supply contact lenses from all of the major contact lens manufacturers such as Ciba Vision, Coopervision, Sauflon, Johnson & Johnson Acuvue and Baush & Lomb as well as some of the niche specialist contact lens manufacturers. This means we can have bespoke contact lenses made to the specific requirements of those people with highly complex prescriptions. Victoria J Smith is also highly experienced at fitting Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses too.

Victoria J Smith is embracing new contact lens technologies and is fitting more and more people with new multifocal contact lenses. These work in a similar way to varifocal spectacle lenses and are proving popular with people over 40 who require extra help with their near vision and reading.

Victoria J Smith Opticians want to make contact lens wear as easy as convenient as possible. Victoria is very experienced in teaching new users how to easily and safely use apply, remove and care for your contact lenses. We offer direct debit contact lens schemes that incorporate home or store delivery. We also sell contact lenses in 3, 6 or 12 month bundles with or without solutions.

Whether you are an existing contact lens wearer or someone considering wearing contact lenses for the first time, call Victoria J Smith Opticians today on 0114 262 1955 to make an appointment.

Advantages of contact lenses

They offer a level of liberation that does not exist for spectacle wearers .
They eliminate annoying visual distortions - peripheral blur, magnifying effects and give the wearer 'normal' vision.
Contact lenses do not steam up, film over or become loose.
They can provide a tremendous psychological boost to children and youngsters with 'strong' glasses.
They can be worn for as little or long (within reason) and as frequently or infrequently, as you like.
They are the ultimate visual correction for sports participation - removing the problem of glasses slipping or the risk of them falling off during active sport.
Because they are invisible they do not signal to others that the wearer has a 'problem' with their vision.
Many people actually see better in contact lenses than in their glasses they provide a more natural form of vision correction being directly on the eye.

Daily Disposable Contact Lenses

Daily disposables are a flexible option, as you can wear them as much or as little as you wish. The main advantage of a daily disposable is the convenience by disposing of them at the end of the day which eliminates the the need for lens cases and contact lens solutions. As you are applying a fresh pair of sterile contact lenses to your eyes each day the risks of infection are also reduced.

Fortnightly Disposable Contact Lenses

2 weekly disposable lenses are an ideal solution for contact lens wearers who find their lenses become less comfortable by the end of the month, and want the 'new' lens feeling more regularly. They must be cleaned every night and stored in a sterile solution.

Monthly Disposable Contact Lenses

Monthly disposable contact lenses are a cost effective option for patients who want to wear the lenses full time. The lenses are available in a standard hydrogel material or silicon hydrogel which is more permeable to oxygen - this leads to a whiter looking, healthier eye and longer wearing times can often be achieved.

Contact Lenses - Astigmatic (toric)

Patients with mild degrees of astigmatism can usually wear regular spherical contact lenses but if the degree of astigmatism is higher the vision may be better corrected with toric contact lenses. The lenses are designed with different powers to correct the individual curves of the eye. They are available in daily, fortnightly and monthly options.

Multifocal/Progressive Contact Lenses

There are contact lenses available with a multifocal design, which enables presbyopic patients to focus at both distance and near without the need for reading glasses. These work in a similar way to progressive or varifocal spectacle lenses.

Tailor Made Contact Lenses to any Prescription

Victoria J Smith Opticians is delighted to be able to supply tailor made soft contact lenses to ANY prescription, now matter how complex the prescription may be. This means to recent release of this innovative product Victoria J Smith Opticians can now supply bespoke contact lenses to people who have previously been told they are not suitable for soft contact lenses due to the complexity of their prescription. These lenses are supplied as either monthly or 3 monthly replacement soft lenses.

Coloured Contact Lenses

If you want to change your eye colour, tinted monthly and daily disposable contact lenses are available. These are quite popular for people who do not even need a prescription but just fancy an eye colour change to match their outfit!

Gas Permeable Contact Lenses

Gas permeable contact lenses are rigid plastic lenses that transmit oxygen.Because they retain their shape on the eye, they mask some corneal irregularities and astigmatism and tend to provide sharper vision than soft contact lenses. Rigid gas permeable lenses do however require a period of adaption as they are not instantly comfortable on initial insertion.

Contact Lenses for Children and Young People

Did you know? Children as young as 8 can successfully wear contact lenses

Did you know? Contact lenses have been found to improve children's concentration and therefore their school performance.

Did you know? New research shows that nearly 1:5 (20%) of young people do not wear their prescribed glasses.

Did you know? The medical officers for the Schools Association say 'Whenever possible, pupils should use soft contact lenses to correct vision during sport -in sports involving direct contact (e.g. rugby; football and martial arts) only soft contact lenses or nothing are acceptable'

Victoria J Smith is skilled at the assessment and fitting of contact lenses. We have a growing number of under 10 year olds who are successfully wearing contact lenses, many of which wear them on a part time basis e.g. for dancing and football but are happy to wear their glasses most of the time.

Once Victoria J Smith has decided the young person is suitable and sufficiently motivated to become a contact lens wearer, they will be shown how to safely apply, remove and care for their lenses.

Victoria J Smith has 3 of her own children and has plenty of patience and gives excellent contact lens training. Following this and once everyone is happy, parents included, the young person will be given contact lenses to try at home. With the advent of daily disposable lenses, part-time wear has become very convenient and can be very cost effective.

How often should you have a contact lens check?

To ensure continued comfort and safely with contact lenses, regulations for ordering in the UK are strict. Most regular wearers will need to be seen every 12 months.

Internet versus real life ordering!

It is often thought that ordering contact lenses through the internet is the cheapest way and we would agree that the contact lens prices look fantastic on line.

Often, once the the cost of regular check-ups and any unscheduled checks (ie: lost/broken contact lenses contact lens problems, emergencies or any concerns you have) are added up, ordering through the internet can end up being the same price or only marginally cheaper, making it more cost effective to use our clinic for lens checks and ordering combined.

Choosing Victoria J Smith Opticians:

Benefiting from an experienced and friendly team on the end of the phone or in person.
If you loose/tear a monthly/daily contact lens we will endeavor to provide you with 2 FREE replacements in the year.
Regular communication from the practice to let you know when your check ups are due and when lenses have arrived.
4 days of appointments during the week with early morning and early evening also available, including Saturdays.
Although we'd love to see you, if you are too busy to call in we can arrange for home delivery (that's just from £1 a month extra)
To keep you up to date with new products, were happy to supply a free trial of any lens we feel would be more comfortable for you - just ask.

AOP videos for patients on using Contact Lenses and on correct hand washing:

www.aop.org.uk/advice-and-support/for-patients/contact-lenses/contact-lens-tips

How do I apply and remove my lenses?
Click the button below and scroll down to watch the video.

Click Here

Myopia Management

What is Myopia?

Myopia means short sightedness i.e. when the eyeball is too long and light entering the eye focus in front of the retina and objects at distance appear blurred.

Myopia is corrected by wearing glasses or contact lenses. As the child grows, their eyes grow and a person becomes more myopic so the power of their spectacles/contact lenses prescription increases.

A higher prescription is linked to an increased risk of developing eye diseases such as glaucoma, retinal detachments and myopic macula degeneration.

Risk factors for myopia

*myopic parents
*east Asian ethnic origin
*myopia before age 9
*limited outdoor time
*heavy engagement at near vision tasks

What is Myopia management?

Myopia management is the way to slow the progression of a child's short sightedness using specialised contact lenses or spectacle lenses along with lifestyle changes.

We can't stop myopia progression completely or guarantee the outcome but the aim is to slow the myopic progression.

Myopia management corrects the child's vision so that they can see well and slow the process of the eyeball growing so reducing how short sighted the child becomes.

The lens/contact lens gives clear vision through the centre and the periphery gives defocus to the peripheral retina to help reduce the eye growth.

Treatment Options:

1. No treatment – i.e. use standard plastic lens that do not slow down myopic progression.

Benefit – cost is covered by the NHS for children in full time education under the age of 19.

Problem – myopic progression can advance and the risk of developing eye diseases increases.

2. Spectacle lenses - the first spectacle lenses for myopic management became available in 2021.

Hoya Miyosmart lenses uses DIMS technology and Essilor Stellest lenses use HALT technology – we fit both brands

3. Contact lenses – there are 2 contact lens options

a) Daily disposable soft contact lenses e.g. Coopervision Misight contact lens which are to be worn a minimum of 6 days a week , 10 hours a day to be effective
b) Ortho-K lenses which are special gas permeable night lenses which are worn whilst the patient is asleep only. They temporarily and reversibly shape the cornea whilst you sleep so you can see during the day without correction

A top up for children/young people with more complex prescriptions that fall outside the available contact lens options may be required with spectacles worn over the contact lens to supply the missing astigmatism correction and provide improved visual acuity

4. Eye drops - Atropine is a prescription eye drop used to open the pupil and limit the ability to focus. This has been found to slow the progression of myopia.

It is not currently available in the UK.

What else can I do to help my child?

1. Regular breaks from intense screen/school work
2. Hold close tasks at 30 cm – no closer
3. 2 hours a day outside (not on a screen!) – this includes walking to/from school, break time/lunch times outside, PE lessons
4. Have an annual sight test for your child from the age of 2 allowing any signs of myopia to be picked up.

When can we stop myopia management?

The thoughts are that when the eye is likely to stop growing, which is about age 24/25 & all studies have finished.

How much does it cost?

Myopia management is currently not funded on the NHS -please ring the practice on 0114 2621955/ email reception@victoriasmithopticians.co.uk for full details.

Further reading

https://mtkidsvision.org/
www.aop.org.uk/myopiamanagement

Kids Zone

Choosing the best optician for your Child's eye care is an important and personal choice. Our aim is to encourage parents to bring their children for regular eye examinations with our informal and friendly approach allowing families to enjoy a calm and welcoming atmosphere.

We have a children's play area and plenty of magazines and tea/coffee for parents.

Victoria Smith, our optician, is fully trained and experienced in paediatrics testing and if glasses are required we have a great range of frames to choose from.

Usually it shows a child's eyes are healthy and normal and we will send you an annual reminder for future eye examinations.

If your child requires glasses, we can issue a NHS voucher.

We provide a FREE range of frames and lenses for children but also have RAYBAN, WOLF, OK, EYESTUFF AND LAZER JUNIOR frames for an additional cost.

Your children's glasses will be fitted with plastic, breakage resistant lenses. Whilst they may be adequate for most purposes, other materials such as polycarbonate are stronger, virtually unbreakable and therefore safer. They may attract a small price premium but this must be weighed against your child's likelihood of breaking their lenses.

A scratch resistant coating can also be added to your child's lenses which can reduce the amount of scratching to their lenses.

Click here to see a Step by Step guide to your eye test

Visual Stress Testing

Visual stress is influenced by many factors not least the visual system. Problems such as incorrect focusing of the eye, poor muscle co-ordination or insufficient muscle strength all have an influence. It is important to have an eye examination to eliminate these potential causes.

Colour overlays have been found to have tremendously beneficial effects for sufferers of both migraines and learning difficulties, including many forms of visual stress.

After an assessment has been carried out, a tint can be prescribed in a sheet of plastic to aid in reading or in a pair of spectacles to help with reading and writing and prevention of migraines.

Dry Eye Clinic

Click to view

If you are suffering with itchy, gritty, sore, dry but watery eyes, you may be suffering with dry eyes. Why not make an appointment in our dry eye clinic for Victoria to assess and help to resolve the problem.

We will begin with history and symptoms, risk factor analysis, non-invasive then invasive tests.

From this we can classify the type of dry eye you have and produce a management plan to help resolve and manage the symptoms.

Home Tests

In providing eyecare to our community, we realise it is not always possible to come into the practice and see us.

If this is the case, we are happy to come to your home to provide your eyecare.

We have portable eye examination equipment to allow eye examinations in the home.

We will also bring a wide range of frames for you to choose from and when your glasses are ready we will return to fit them for you in your own home.

House bound clients qualify for an NHS eye examination and will receive our service free of charge through the NHS.

Click to view

E-scoop lenses for Macular Degeneration

New E-Scoop lens can improve vision for people with Macular Degeneration

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK. It affects the central vision and can make seeing fine detail like reading very difficult or impossible. The advent of a new spectacle lens called E-scoop has offered hope for those whose sight has deteriorated through this condition (or other macular diseases). The new lenses look like no other spectacle lens. The unique curve, thickness, prism, colour and coating could improve your vision significantly.

The lenses can give you:

Partial recovery of your central vision
Reduction of your sensitivity to light and glare
Better recognition of details
Improved contrast
Improved depth perception

It is very simple to try the new lenses - we have a set of lenses you can try over the top of your prescription spectacles (you need to have a current up-to-date pair of spectacles) - If you get the "WOW" factor - they work. They really can improve your vision significantly, and we have had many clients like you who have found these to be a massive benefit. If the trial clip-on works, we can then make the lenses to your prescription, further improving the sight that you achieve.

So how do they work?
The lens thickness and curve magnifies the vision.
We displace the image your eye sees onto a part of your macula that is healthier and therefore has a higher quality of vision than the damaged macula.
Research has shown that the lower part of your macula suffers the most damage, so we shift the image upwards to a healthier part of your macula.
The special colour of the lenses provides you with more contrast and a reduction of sensitivity to light.
We reduce reflections with a high-quality anti-reflection coating.

Are these eccentric viewing spectacles?

No - Macular degeneration normally damages the inferior part of your macula and these new lenses shift the image to a healthier part. The image is always kept within the macular area. Most of our clients are looking for the best image quality, with these spectacles this process is repeatable and provides a restful view of the image.

How long does it take to get used to your new lenses?

Adaptation time is very quick; you should immediately experience a "WOW' factor.

Who can benefit from theses lenses?

These are primarily developed for you if you have macular degeneration. You can find the beneficial effects of these new lenses at every stage of macular degeneration.

What do I do next?

Call 0114 2621955 to book an appointment to come and see the lenses and try them out. Bring your up to date spectacles and prescription. Please bring any reading material or objects you are struggling to see so you can test for an improvement. If your glasses are not very recent we recommend booking an eye examination with us at the same time. E-scoop lenses work best when the prescription is as accurate as possible.

Emergency Eye Care

During Opening Hours:

Please call the practice on 0114 2621955 for an emergency eye appointment (PEARS Appointment). You do not need to be one of our patients.

We are a member of the PEARS Scheme (Primary Eyecare Acute Referral Scheme) which helps patients as they find this service more convenient, closer to home, we have longer opening hours and have weekend appointments. If you need a follow up, there is also consistency of care.

We have been sourced by The Local Optical Committee, and have been externally training and accredited and satisfied the required experience, skills and equipment criteria.

If you are 16yrs or over and having an eye emergency, please attend The Emergency Eye Centre at The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Broomhill, Sheffield, S10 2RX. Mon-Fri, 8.30am-4pm (excluding bank holidays).

If you are under 16yrs and having an eye emergency, please attend Sheffield Children's Hospital, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TU. Open 24hrs a day/365 days a year.

Out of Hours:

Please attend A&E at The Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU. Tel. 0114 2434343.

Testimonials

AS
Highly recommended. Thorough check up, explained well. My two boys love the place and all staff are very helpful.

HC
Called today for my annual eye test that is always very thorough. For the first time I had the OCT. It doesn't take long and afterwards Victoria explained the amazing views of the back of my eyes. It is very reassuring that everything is ok but if there had been a problem the Victoria would have found it!

HC
Would highly recommend. I attend every year for a check up, also take my children. Victoria is great at putting everyone at their ease. Very professional and thorough. A friendly team.

PK
Victoria is great. She explains everything and will take time to answer your questions. Offers options and alternatives. A lovely atmosphere in both Victoria's surgery and the lovely receptionist. THANK YOU

Privacy Policy

Terms & Conditions

Opening Hours

Find Us