NHS Eye Examinations are provided free of charge in Scotland. The exam will thoroughly assess the health of the eye and can provide useful insight into your general health. Regular testing is important to detect and issues with the eyes at an early stage, even if you are lucky enough to benefit from good sight. The eye test typically lasts 45 minutes but can vary depending on your individual needs.

The examination will consist of:

• A discussion of your medical and ocular history, and any symptoms that you may be experiencing. We will ask about the medication that you take, as these can often affect the eye. It would be useful if you could bring an up-to-date list of these to your appointment
• Assessment of your vision and eye muscles
• Examination of the health of the eye and surrounding area
• Measurement of the internal pressure of the eye
• Testing of your visual field if required
• Retinal photography and optical coherence tomography standard.

For patients over the age of 60, NHS Scotland recommend that you have a dilated retinal examination. This involves instilling drops into the eyes which gradually enlarge the size of the pupils. These eyedrops will allow for a brighter view of the inside of the eye, as well as a better assessment of the peripheral retina. These eye drops can blur the vision and increase sensitivity to strong lights for a few hours after the eye examination. As such, driving is not normally recommended until your vision settles. On bright days it is beneficial to wear sunglasses when dilated.

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