What makes an advanced eye exam different?

An advanced eye exam goes far beyond the basic sight test. At Buchanan Optometrists, you benefit from hospital-grade technology like 4D OCT retinal scans and ultra-widefield imaging, which can detect signs of eye disease up to 5 years earlier. Your 60-minute appointment allows time for in-depth assessment, personalised advice, and a complete understanding of your eye health—not just a new prescription.

How often should you have your eyes tested?

Most people should have an eye exam every two years. However, if you're over 60, have diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, or wear contact lenses, more frequent tests may be recommended. Regular advanced exams can detect silent conditions early and help preserve your vision for life.

What are the early signs of glaucoma or macular degeneration?

Early signs of glaucoma may include loss of peripheral vision or changes in eye pressure, often without symptoms. Macular degeneration may cause blurred or distorted central vision and difficulty reading. Because these signs can be subtle, advanced scans at Buchanan Optometrists help detect issues before you notice symptoms.

Articles

Ocular Rosacea & Acne Rosacea - the lowdown
Introduction Acne rosacea and ocular rosacea are conditions that not only affect your appearance but can also significantly impact your quality of life. They often come with many uncomfortable symptoms, including red, sore, or watery eyes.
Did you know an eye test could save your life?
With the specialist equipment we have at Buchanan Optometrists it is not uncommon for us to discover things that may not have been diagnosed elsewhere. These are just two of our patients who credit their eye test at Buchanan Optometrists as saving their life.
Eye test that could spot your risk of stroke
This week, a client showed me an interesting report in the newspaper entitled ‘Eye test that could spot your risk of stroke.’ The report highlights the importance of digital photography which allows us to examine better the retinal blood vessels at the back of your eyes.
BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine sheds light on dry eyes
On Monday 17th May, Jeremy Vine interviewed GP Sarah Jarvis and Jenny Éclair about dry eye syndrome. The interview shed light on what can be an extremely debilitating condition. Listeners also phoned in with their experiences and advice on the subject.
7 Eye symptoms that require immediate attention
Whilst your eyes comfort and vision can vary day to day for a number of reasons there are some symptoms which require urgent attention in order to avoid sight or even life threatening complications. If you notice any of the following please call us for advice.
5 signs your glasses might need adjusting
Buchanan Optometrists' Dispensing Optician, Evelyn Field, gives her top tips on when you may need your spectacles adjusting. If you notice any of the following, please come into the practice anytime to have your spectacles adjusted.
Nervous of eye tests or opticians? Let us help
During a recent Radio Kent phone in that Alisdair was answering questions for, one listener explained how she was nervous of the opticians and asked what could be done. This is actually a common thing we see. People can be nervous for a number of reasons. Let me tell you how we can help.
7 Top tips to help dry eyes
Alisdair Buchanan has been lecturing at the Moorfields Dry eye conference for the last 4 years and offers the newest dry eye treatments. Here are his top tips to help everyone's dry eyes. 1) Wear sunglasses to help protect against cold wind and glare.
Smoking can lead to blindness
When I was 12 my mum took me to visit the hospital ward she nursed on. Not to encourage me into a career in medicine but solely to meet her patients who were suffering from throat and mouth cancer. The purpose? To put me off ever smoking. Did it work? Of course it did.
Laser treatment and dry eyes
Whilst we can sometimes see the life changing effects laser eye surgery can have on a person’s life we are always very cautious who we recommend the procedure to.
8 Top tips to banish Hayfever symptoms
If, like me, the last few days of high pollen count have left you a sniffling, eye-watery mess, I've written my top tips to help get you back outside and looking good again. 1)Cool it.
Dry eye relief in a tablet
TheraTears is a Combined optimised flax and fish oil supplement for dry eyes. It supports eye comfort and healthy tears from the inside.
Safety First
We love a good fireworks party- we are hoping to squeeze in at least two public displays this week and will also be having a fireworks party with friends and family at the weekend- any excuse for a party! Despite all the fun, I can’t help but keep my health and safety head on.
New Lenses Can Help You Sleep Better!
Are you getting the best nights sleep? Did you see the new BBC series last night called ‘Trust me, I’m a Doctor’? There was a very interesting segment about sleep and how it is being affected by our use of TV screens, phones and computers.
Sunglasses save lives
Having been driving around the county at the weekend, I forgot my sunglasses one day this highlighted my desperate need for them! So I turned back to get them! Road safety experts are warning that glare from the sun has been identified as a prime cause of accidents and I would strongly agree.