DSE eye tests

The University offers free eye tests to staff who use DSE regularly, subject to the following:

1. DSE users are entitled to request an eye examination and sight test once every two years.

2. DSE users are entitled to spectacles for DSE use if they are needed, i.e. glasses specifically worn for display screen work when their normal / everyday spectacles cannot be used for this purpose.

3. Under a university agreement, the cost of both the sight test and DSE spectacles where required, will be met by university funding through an arrangement with Specsavers Opticians under their corporate eyecare voucher scheme.

4. Staff may not use any other optician if they wish their eye test or spectacles to be funded by the university under the Health and Safety (DSE) Regulations 1992.

5. Staff will not be able to claim for their DSE prescription if it is part of a varifocal or bi-focal lens prescription. This is not a requirement of the H&S legislation.

6. Staff who meet the qualifying criteria above will receive a pre-paid voucher from the Occupational Health Service for a sight test and eye examination. If spectacles are required solely for DSE work, a pair of spectacles from the £45.00 range will be available free to the member of staff using this voucher. If staff wish to purchase spectacles from a more expensive range, they can use this voucher as credit (for the same amount) towards spectacles from one of the more expensive ranges. If spectacles are required for general use (e.g. reading, distance, varifocal or bifocal) this voucher will allow them a £20 discount off their normal spectacles, providing they are purchased from the £99 range or over.

7. Please complete PD41 and return the completed form to Occupational Health Service, Queen's Building (East Wing), Streatham Campus in a reasonable time before the optician’s appointment is due.

8. If you have any queries, please contact Occupational Health on Exeter 263136 (Ext 3136) or 725025 (Ext. 5025).

Note: To receive a voucher, you should complete PD41 in full and send this to the Occupational Health Service before your optician appointment. Occupational Health will send you a pre-paid voucher to your work address, as described above. You will need to give this voucher to your Specsavers Optician at the time of the appointment. This process can not be undertaken in retrospect.