Coronavirus: Specsavers stores to stay open for emergency eyecare

The temporary change, which came into effect Monday, March 23, means routine eye tests will not be carried out until further notice.

However Susanne Akil, regional chair for Scotland, stressed the change in current practices – outlined in a directive from the Scottish Government Health Department – means the opticians can maintain levels of support to those most in need within their communities.

She says: “While we are no longer permitted to provide routine eye examinations until further notice, we will remain open for care, particularly for key workers. Our desire is to continue to provide essential and urgent services to the communities we serve, as well as online and telephone advice for those who need it.

“As eyecare providers to the community, we are still able to support our primary and secondary care colleagues in pharmacy, GP and wider NHS by managing those requiring emergency and essential eyecare.

“If you need an urgent consultation because your condition is causing you distress, or preventing you from functioning as you normally would without our help, please call us first as store opening times and services will vary. The exception to this is key workers are still able to walk in to our stores for immediate advice.”

Specsavers is asking that anyone requesting an appointment ensures that their visit is absolutely essential in that their condition is causing them distress or the inability to function normally without our help, and that they or anyone in their household is not displaying any flu-like or COVID-19 symptoms, such as a new continuous cough and/or a high temperature.

Susanne added: “We are following the government’s guidance in helping mitigate the spread of the virus and have taken additional measures to keep our customers and colleagues safe, implementing social distancing, extra cleaning, disinfection and providing hand sanitiser across our store network. The health and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is our number one priority.”

A range of services, such as home delivery of glasses, contact lenses and hearing aid batteries, is available for those customers who don’t require urgent care. Glasses and contact lenses can also be purchased online for customers with a current prescription.