I broke my specs and have to get new ones so out to optician on Mon this will be first time out for 16 months and i would not be going if I wasn't desperate. we have a surge of the new Delta variant just starting here., have had vacci n e but this variant is more resistant to vaccine, so not happy. Haven't driven for all that time either so car is now serviced and rejuvenated but I am not.
Hope I can remember how to drive,!
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Jaybird19
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I lost my opticians a while before first lockdown. They just closed down.So guess I will be back of queue when I want to make an appointment at any new optician
You should be fairly safe at the moment the levels of infection are comparatively low at the moment, who knows what it will be like in a few weeks time, maybe even worse.
I’m the same I’ve cancelled one appointment due to getting anxious mine are broken but I also know I need an eye test, my eyes have got worse since all this began. I hope everything goes ok and you manage to remember how to drive 🙈 good luck.
I havnt been to get new specs since the first lock down but I have some old ones , do you as they are good enough I still use them a bit , I do hope you get on ok 👌 and I do hope you can avoid going it’s such a bore and I’ve forgotten how to drive too. My mum used to repair her own in the days before cheap specs. Can’t you just ring and say look at my last prescription and post me a pair , a friend did that . Good luck x
Good luck Jay bird, get out there and get glasses, I've done it, we've been vaccinated and we must now try and get back to some sort of normality. Try not to think of the variants, just do everything to keep yourself safe....mask, hand sanitizer etc. The opticians have good procedures in place. And do you ever forget how to drive 🤣xx
You will be fine Jaybird, I’m certain of that. Be well prepared with your usual good routine, the optician will have everything in place and you’ll remember how to drive. If you’re really worried then an optician can come to you with all precautions in place of course.
I need an eye test and have opted for a home visit from an optician. If your prescription is current you could get new specs on line, otherwise I hope that all goes well for you tomorrow xx
I strongly believe that it is important (albeit with little steps) that we move toward doing things outside the home. Otherwise what is point in having vaccine?!Going to opticians is important and is a medical appointment. Opticians can pick up many medical issues as well as testing vision. They have all safety procedures in place.
Yes delta variant may be increasing but look at actual numbers NOT percentages. This shows numbers are still very very low.
If people don’t go out now when weather is nice and it has been shown that being outside is relatively safe then when will people go out?
Before I am criticised for not understanding. I was also part of shielding group but even then would go for short walks outside because strongly believe some exercise helpful or would become deconditioned.
You'll be fine. Opticians are very good at sanitising everything and are very careful. I'm sure this virus will continue to mutate for years to come so we can't stay prisoners in our homes until we drop.......can we? The biggest hurdle for me is relearning how to speak with people again. Have become insular & lost all my social skills with only the dog for company. One of my first steps last year was the opticians last summer so recall how nervous I was then. Good luck, especially with the driving, a bit like falling off a horse you just have to get back on. P x
I expect you talk to your dog . I found myself talking to the birds.! Had quite a long conversation with the robin who spent all his time on the balcony guarding the Bird food!
😄 I have to admit I'm practicing sparrow speak, there's a nest in my roof & they sit on the edge of the gutter singing - from 04.45 🙄. They hardly stop all day
I can understand your fears Jaybird but the opticians have put everything in place to keep you safe, just make sure that you wear your mask, santise your hands and keep your distance from the crowds. The optician will be wearing ppe so all should be well. It will also give you some confidence getting out and about.
I really am in need of some new specs and thought after my hospital appointment tomorrow I would go into town and have a look at a few opticians and see if I can find something I like, my friend told me that just to look at glasses you now need an appointment as they have to be steralised after people have touched them. Looks like it may take a while if I have to have appointments in a few shops before I even take a test x
I am very fortunate where I get my glasses. I get eyes tested at opticians but then take prescription to discount glasses shop. Yes they do have to clean any frames touched but have a vast array of frames to look at.
You can take your prescription to another shop if you cannot find what you want. I do that but they were cheaper quality too and I spent all my time cleaning them as they attracted grease all the time.
Take a few deep breaths before you set off. If you’ve had 2 covid vaccinations you’ll be fine. Everywhere I’ve been too has been good at sanitising. A local cafe won’t let us sit down till the tables been sanitised. The worst place to go is probably a supermarket where people like to flaunt the rules (customers and mainly teenagers) Good luck. I hope you find it enjoyable and not scary x
As you may be anxious I hope my experience at going to the opticians may help you. I had to go to the opticians during this pandemic, my eye test was due but I was aware that my eyes had got considerably worse. Being one of the CEV group I was very anxious. I rang the opticians I have been to for many years and explained to them that I needed an appointment but was somewhat anxious about mixing with others. They were very good and gave me an appointment 30 minutes before their usual opening time, everything was very covid secure, masks, hand sanitiser and social distancing. Choosing frames they sanitised each one before I tried them on and when I removed them. Not sure about all opticians giving before opening appointments but they do have strict covid rules to follow. Depending on where you live infection rates in the main are lower currently than when I went. As for driving well I was a while after 23rd March last year before I drove, I had an hospital appointment so had to drive, initially like you I was unsure but got a few miles down the road and my nervousness about driving had gone so I guess you never forget how to drive. Just be aware and maintain your own social distance from others. Hope it all goes well for you. Stay safe and take care. xx
I use the Outside Clinic they come to your home do your eye test and have a really good selection of glasses. They are very good and really lovely. Here is there number if anyone is interested0800 605040. Hope it helps someone have a lovely day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx
Good luck on Monday, Jaybird. i think the opticians part of the outing will be fine. Their livelihood depends on scrupulous hygiene after all. You just need to maintain social distancing as much as you can on the walk from your car to the shop. As for the driving, take it slowly. You will probably find the roads are/ seem ? much busier than they were pre lockdown. I'm still acclimatizing myself- trying to stop panicking whenever I see a parked car ahead. (Can I get round it now or should I wait for that approaching car to pass- Help!!!!) I'm sure you won't be that silly. Easy does it.
Thanks it is a very busy place.i drove once before when I had problems and I was so slow and I didn't realise until a cyclist lookesd round to see why I was following him !
My sight was definitely worse for the need of a new prescription, so did make an appointment. Needed work/computer specs with a double prescription, plus some for distance and TV use. I'd had both vaccinations, one just a week before.Opticians were brilliant (late April): only one customer allowed at a time, everything wiped down between appointments, and great care with masks, gloves etc.
Happily, our optician is walking distance and I was well enough for the walk when I went to collect my new specs a week later.
All has been well and I'd not long finished radiotherapy followed by Gamma Knife surgery, so pretty vulnerable. With the care taken by myself and the opticians, everything has been fine. Very happy to have my new specs too!
I had left it as my. Eyes got worse but my titanium frames years old broke on the bridge so have long distance vision ,and use computer mid distance and reading glasses. Proper bind. You did well in your situation
When I first became ill in late 2019 I was overdue an eye test, but couldn't go. My Silhouette specs are titanium and they'd broken, so we got a brand new pair of old new stock in the right size and shape from an Ebay optician/frames seller, and our optician collected them from us, had them cleaned & glazed with my last prescription and brought them back for me. They lasted fine until I managed to get my recent eye test and some more new specs. The older stock Silhouette frames we got from Ebay to re glaze with my older prescription are good enough for me to read in bed for a short while each night, so not wasted.
One thing I wouldn't want to do at present is visit a dentist!
Well that was a good idea . It will be a struggle because I can't walk too well as I have shrunk And got spinal stenosis and wonky hip too .Dentist-got infected tooth 6 weeks a go an. Now have to back and have a possible capping on it. Got last appointment too, not first as i would have wished. I have cheap plastic ones for reading.
Hi Jay, you should always have a spare pair of Glasses. Happened to me in the 1980's, we were all off to a family wedding in Zambia, there was so much fun, we had, we had to stop the van as I had put my head out of the van, and my glasses fell off, and broke them, luckily my Dad had a spare pair, so I borrowed them for the wedding, it was a lovely wedding, still miss those days, I was about 18 or so, Childhood days are the best, I usually have a spare pair of Glasses at home.
I haven't been to the optical for 3 years, and they haven't contacted me as yet.
Since I had had cataracts done I have collected various mid and close range glasses but i am used to varifocal and and didn't have a spare varifocal , just tnose for computer . Do use the midrange computer ones and these have done as spare but still have to keep swapping to read.
I don't use the computer, but use the tablet which is similar to a mini Computer. I have about 2 extra pairs of glasses, and have got Dark glasses as well. So I have plenty to keep me going, you just reminded me I need to keep an extra pair in my traveling bag.
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