Concerned about your eyes? Let the friendly staff of Longton Optical help you.
The practice has invested in a high-tech Ocular Coherence Tomography scanner to examine the back of your eyes and detect potential problems. And it’s proving highly popular, with an average of three patients a day having the sophisticated scan. The £50,000 machine uses lightwaves to take a digital image of your retina for patients of all ages, detecting even the most subtle changes.
Optometrist Lisa Derbyshire said images allow instant and early diagnosis of common eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the UK. Other common findings include diabetes, glaucoma, vitreous detachments and macular holes – which can all be treated more effectively if detected early, even before they are apparent to the patient.
A visit to Longton Optical may mean you receive hospital attention more quickly than going via your GP. Manager Debbie Tyrer said recent changes mean the practice can refer patients to Community Eye Services in Preston, who must see patients within five days. She added: “We aim to give people an excellent service and continuity of care – people see the same optician every time and we pride ourselves on going the extra mile for them.” Debbie has been with Longton Optical since it set up in Facers Pharmacy in 1994, moving to its current base in 2002.
Other services include:
- Minor Eye Conditions Service, Lisa will check concerns about red/ sore eyes, foreign bodies, discharges, sudden loss of vision and more, with fast referral to Community Eye Services if needed.
- Full eye tests with optometrist Lisa Derbyshire, including a full glaucoma check. An additional OCT scan costs £30.
- Cataracts Fast-track referrals & post-cataract operation check-ups
- Spectacles/contact lenses
- New dispensing optician Chetna Chapanery, who replaced Sonia Symm when she retired, offers designer, mid-range and budget
glasses, including Ray-Ban, Emporio Armani, Silhouette, Swarovski, plus Maui Jim and Ray-Ban sunglasses. - Full spectacle repair service and contact lens accessories.
Debbie adds: “We are local and convenient – if people need anything relating to their vision, we are on your doorstep.”
