How to claim a free eye test?

There certainly used to be, and paying not just for the eye test but also for any spectacles shown to be required as a result of the tests. That was the case for me a few years ago, and I would be surprised if the law had since changed to make it no longer a requirement.

I can't help as to where to get forms, etc. My employers arranged it all.

You have I think to more than just work with computers - a considerable part of your job has to be in front of a screen. A teacher (unless very specialised) doesn't sound like qualifying on my understanding but ICBW.

Last time I did it my employer gave me a voucher for the optician and a form for him to fill in - nothing for me to do but pay the excess if I wanted frames better than those covered by the voucher. My boss had to fill in a brief internal form authorising HR to issue the voucher. Other companies may vary though.

HR had outsourced the voucher administration to some company - it's a national scheme. Most opticians accept them.

BTW you only get the glasses themselves paid for if your VDU prescription differs from your reading/distance prescriptions.

There is, but they don't have to pay for a full test, just one which judges your work requirements

They also have to pay for your glasses if you need them for your job, but they don't have to pay if you need them for some other reason.

tim

We always insist on an eye test for new employees and an annual test thereafter. Costs very little but ensures that we know the eye condition at employment commencement and during the course of employment.

This would help us (and a Court) gauge to what extent the persons condition got worse due to the job etc.

Surely you simply reclaim the cost from your employer. I have never had to fill in any form apart from the employers standard "expenses" form.

Yes, The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992:

We get a form off the company, take it to the optician who signs it, and claim the cost on expenses. Other employers may have different procedures.

Our procedure is that we get a sort of payment device (like a sort of cheque) from our company which you hand to the optician to pay for the test.

"Adrian Boliston" wrote

The employer might want to arrange the sight tests themselves "on-site" - could work out cheaper for them. [My ex-employer did this.]

In that case, they might refuse to pay for a "private" test which you arranged yourself, when you could have gone to theirs instead...

At 23:10:44 on 16/02/2006, Adrian Boliston delighted uk.finance by announcing: