Those in the following categories are entitled to an NHS eye exam:

• Children under 16 or under 19 and still in full-time education
• All those 60 and over
• People receiving certain benefits
• Diabetics
• Glaucoma sufferers or those at risk
• Those who are 40 and over and the parent/brother/sister/child of a person with glaucoma
• Registered blind and partially sighted

No. When people wear the glasses they realise they can see more clearly and comfortably. What they may have considered normal and acceptable before is now inferior by comparison.

If you have plastic lenses (CR39) in your glasses then dry tissues will scratch them. It is generally better to dampen the tissue, or even use soapy water and a soft cloth. Glasses with a reflection free coating should be cleaned with a special cloth and spray.

No. unless specifically told that you can by your optometrist. Sleeping in your lenses can be hazardous as it can lead to infection or damage to the cornea (front window of the eye).

Yes. Not all solutions will suit every patient, or the lenses they are wearing.

Although there is no reliable evidence to suggest that long-term intensive viewing of monitors is damaging to the eyes it is true that VDU users tend to complain of eye strain more than non-users. There are practical steps that VDU users can take to help the problem, pop in for a free leaflet.