Frequently Asked Questions

We have 3 words we think sum us up: Expert: We have some of the most qualified and influential optometrists in Scotland working across our practices, from pioneers in independent prescribing to internationally published clinicians. Each of our optometrists are highly qualified and experts in both eye testing and clinical management. Individual: We believe that your optometrist should know you like the back of your eyes! We value building relationships with our patients and look forward to seeing you year after year. We believe you should be given the time you need for you eye test to full explore your concerns and deliver tailor-made solutions Local: We are proud to be your local eye care providers. Our owners and staff live locally and care about their communities. We are not a large national chain and we think this is one of our strengths- we know the Highlands and what is important to health care here. Being a small company we can curate our selection of frames from eye fairs across Europe so you are sure to find something unique.

The easiest way to book is to call your preferred branch. Alternatively you can send a booking request via our booking page.

If you are an ordinary resident of the UK, you are entitled to an NHS eye test in Scotland. You can also receive an NHS eye test in Scotland if you are a refugee, asylum seeker or an eligible overseas visitor. To find out more about eligibility see the NHS Scotland website

Patients who are eligible for NHS eye tests can receive them at the following intervals: Aged 60 or older Annually Diabetic Annually Sight impaired Annually Under 16 years old Annually Between 16-59 years old Every 2 years If you experience any problems outwith this interval you can still attend for an NHS-funded supplementary eye test, provided you are experiencing a new problem or your optometrist has requested to see you in order to monitor a condition See NHS inform website

Yes. If you are experiencing a new problem (e.g. a change in vision or an eye infection), or your optometrist has requested to see you in order to monitor a condition, you can attend for an NHS-funded supplementary eye test. You are also welcome to attend for a private eye test at any time for peace of mind.

A private eye test costs £75 and includes a thorough assessment of your prescription, the health of your eyes and includes a specialist scan of the macula and optic nerve. Please see our full price list for other specialist services

You will enter the examination room with the optometrist and you are welcome to bring a chaperone if you wish. After asking you about any problems you are experiencing and your medical history, the optometrist will conduct a series of tests. These include checking your vision and prescription (usually by reading an eye chart), assessing your binocular vision (how well your eyes work together), and the health of your eyes. This part of the assessment can involve bright lights but these are kept to a minimum for your comfort. If you choose to receive a specialist OCT scan of your eye, this is a simple test that uses lights to scan the back of your eyes and take a photograph. There are other tests your optometrist may recommend to you and these will be fully explained. Any relevant findings from your eye exam will be explained to you and we can write this down if necessary. You will receive a copy of your spectacle prescription at the end of the test for you to keep. If the optometrist has recommended that you would benefit from new glasses, they will pass to you a knowledgeable member of staff who can explain your frame and lens options that would be suitable for your prescription.

Yes. We offer specialist appointments for myopia control where your child's vision will be assessed using a specialist scan that measures the length of the eye. An assessment of the risk of myopia progression will be made before recommending any management options. management options include special glasses and contact lenses. See our price list for specialist appointment pricing. Read more about myopia control here

Yes. Colin Pettinger, Dr Joel Somerville and Anna Macsween are all independent prescribing optometrists. They are qualified to write NHS and private prescriptions for eye medications.

Yes. Colin Pettinger, Dr Joel Somerville and Anna Macsween are independent prescribing (IP) optometrists who are qualified to write NHS prescriptions for eye medications.

We fully understand that choosing glasses can be overwhelming for some people. There are choices to make regarding both frames and spectacle lenses. And you might be wearing them every day for a long time. Don't worry. We are on hand to give you expert advice and help. Our staff are all experienced in helping you choose. We believe frames should be comfortable, robust and make you look and feel good. We curate our frame selection so that each unique frame is waiting for the right face. We will give you honest and helpful advice on whether a frame fits and its suitability with your prescription. There is a wide variety of lens options available for every person- so much so that dispensing opticians have special qualifications in dispensing them. You need a lens option that will allow you to see at every distance that is important to you, that is thin and light and doesn't cause glare. Each lens will require a unique set of measurements and all our staff are trained to conduct these. If in any doubt, please book an appointment with one of our dispensing opticians.

Yes. Karla Graham and Kerri Mackay are both qualified dispensing opticians who are trained to expertly fit, measure and give advice on all types of spectacles for all types of patients.

All our friendly front-of-house staff are highly trained in dispensing spectacles and are ready to help. However there are some circumstances where we recommend taking advantage of seeing one of our expert dispensing opticians: You have found it difficult to find glasses in the past that fitted properly You found your last glasses heavy or uncomfortable You have a very high prescription You would like to try varifocals for the first time Your glasses do not allow you to see at all the distances you wish You have prism in your glasses A consultation with one of our dispensing opticians is free of charge. If you are in the following categories you must, by law have your glasses dispensed by a dispensing optician or an optometrist: You are under 16 You are registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired

You may have heard of varifocal lenses and may be interested in trying them. They are designed to allow you to see at a range of distances we can set for you e.g. driving, using a computer and reading, all in one set of glasses. Since we only use the best ophthalmic lenses available, our varifocals are easy for most people to get used to. However, for peace of mind we always allow you to return them within the first 30 days if you struggle to use them. As long as you keep us informed, we will not leave you with a pair of glasses you feel you can't use. We promise.

We are proud of our unique selection of frames that we hand-pick from optical fairs in Europe and from our long-established partners. We try to create an eclectic mix of frames that prioritise style, robustness and value for money.

As an independent Opticians, we have access to an extensive range of ophthalmic lenses and are not bound to one company, as other large High Street Opticians are. However, we believe that only great ophthalmic lenses should be used in your spectacles. You only get one set of eyes, so you should have the best vision possible. Our main suppliers of lenses include Zeiss, Hoya and Nikon, recognised among the best spectacle lens makers in the world.

If you are entitled to certain benefits, the NHS can help you towards the cost of your glasses. Please see the NHS website for more details and we can sort the paperwork for you in store.

Nowadays, most spectacle prescriptions are available in contact lens form. If your eyes are very dry or you have other eye conditions, we may not recommend contact lenses for you, but we are happy to talk to you about any questions you may have.

Yes. There is a special type of lens called a multifocal contact lens that works a little bit like varifocal glasses. If you are interested in finding out more, see us for a contact lens trial.

Modern contact lens materials are comfortable and should not harm your eye health. Many of our patients wear contact lenses every day of the week without issues. It is important if you want to wear contact lenses every day that the right lenses are chosen for you and fitted correctly to minimise the chance of any problems. Our expert optometrists have a wealth of experience in doing this. Get in touch to book a contact lens fitting appointment. We will always give you honest advice and wearing contact lenses every day will increase your risk of eye infections so we will usually recommend you take regular breaks.

Yes. Many of our patients only wear contact lenses occasionally, e.g. for holidays, for sports or for nights out. We generally recommend daily lenses for occasional use, and nowadays these come in a wide range of prescriptions and are made from materials that help keep your eyes healthy. You can buy daily contact lenses in boxes of 30 and you have the flexibility to just purchase whenever you run out.

Yes! Fitting hard lenses and providing checkups for people wearing hard lenses is becoming a dying art. You may struggle to find optometrists that are truly confident in seeing patients with hard lenses. But with us you are in good hands. Book with us and we will ensure you receive expert care for your eyes whilst wearing hard lenses.