Which? claims eye tests are falling short

Some of the UK largest opticians have prescribed incorrect prescriptions to patients, skipped important tests and failed to detect serious eye conditions, new research from consumer group Which? suggests.

Nearly half of the 30 undercover eye tests recorded by Which? researchers were rated as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ by a panel of optometrists. Some of the eye tests resulted in ‘nonsensical’ or ‘dangerous’ prescriptions that the panel branded as ‘shocking.’

Researchers visited Specsavers, Boots Opticians, Optical Express, Scrivens, Asda, Vision Express as well as independent practices. An eye test carried out in Asda was said to have resulted in a prescription that could not be used to make a pair of glasses while a visit to Vision Express was rated ‘very poor’ after glasses failed to correct double vision.