ACU eye testing - not on this high street sonny
 

Grrrrr, just had my ACU form returned even though the last test was late 2009, so phoned 8 local opticians, told each that I wanted a "simple confrontation visual field test", as per the acu form, (this is the test where you read the diminishing letters off the chart), every one of them was up for the confrontation bit! , but not the field test, they all insisted they could only do a full 'automated perimetry test' even though the form states this is not required, blathering on about how they could be sued if they missed something wrong with an eye ball, or going all arsy," its my shop, won't do it".

But a 20/20 visual acuity test is no use to perscibe glasses from, what they want to to do is flog specs!!

What if the acu made an arrangment with one of the nationals like "should have gone to.." and sent everyone a voucher, that every 3 years you used to get a chart and basic colour test. The test couldn't take more than 10/15 mins tops, you pay say £15 (and that includes the 1 min it takes to stamp the form !) ACU gets a cheque towards, say its welfare work, and then 10,000? peeps/year go to same chain. If they identify a problem THEN the shop can offer its full examination and try to flog you the specs.

Grrr this weather is turning me into a grumpy old whatsit, boo, but 1 month to the off, hurray. Second 1/2 shaft went onto a very cold van today, mot-ing next week-ish?

pete

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power". Abraham Lincoln ...53 horse power should do it

I always got mine signed at Boots. They never had a problem with it, but I always made sure I had the test and then asked them to sign the form. They just used to stamp it and squiggle; job done!
Best bit was I used to claim the fee back off work so it cost me nothing! :D

For the 14 ACU licences that I've had I've been to Boots, Specsavers and Lately Tesco opticians

Specsavers did mine - just booked a sight test then gave the 'oh by the way' when I got in the room

The test the acu want you to take is very simple, quick and therefore should be cheap, what the opticians want is to do a 3/4hr calculation of the best presciption for specs. Even at the £30 they want to charge the shop is probably still subsidising that test in the knowledge they'll get it back IF you buy the specs.

Any one person is not going to change the high street eye test = sales monopoly, but what I'm suggesting is that the acu uses the power it has to deliver X number of potential clients and in return we collectively get cheap quick form filling.

pete

To be honest I think the number of tests the ACU can provide a chain with is still peanuts in comparison to people off the street, so it probably doesn't make commercial sense to do it.

But anyway, one quick Google ("cheap eye test") and the first result was this - a voucher for a £10 eye test at Boots!
http://www.boots.com/en/GBP10-eye-check_1240962/

;)

Tesco's Opticians department do it for free :) Least they did when I had mine done for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

I've already booked a test at Boots in marlow, have printed a £10 voucher but they'll charge an additional £10 to stamp the form.

Anyone know how many members there are in the acu? more than 139,000(my membership#) If the acu could make £1 per test towards their benevalent fund, thats more than all there other incomes.

pete

I have mine done at the 'vision centre, university of manchester,.
It takes a little longer than the high street because you are the guinea pig for a med student learning how to do eye tests. But then a senior optician has to verify the students results..... However, it's FREE and they are extremely thorough!

Just got mine done at Boots as part of an annual eye test. The test is free to anybody with a family history of glaucoma although I think you have to be over 40 as well (so no problem there :) ). Optician did seem in a bit of a rush but no pressure to buy any glasses - and no charge for stamping the ACU form.