Does your employer have to pay for your eye test?

Most people who work at a screen all day have never asked their employer for an eye test. Plenty don't know they can.

If you use a computer, laptop or tablet for work most days, UK health and safety law says your employer must arrange and pay for an eye test when you ask for one. In some cases, they have to pay for glasses too.

This guide explains who qualifies, what's covered, what isn't, and how to book a workplace eye test at our Ripple Road practice in Barking.

Who counts as a screen user at work

The rules come from the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations. Display screen equipment, usually shortened to DSE, covers PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones used for work.

You're classed as a DSE user if you use screens daily, for continuous periods of an hour or more. If you only use a screen now and then, or for short bursts, the rules don't apply.

Where you work doesn't change this. You're covered if you:

• sit at a fixed desk
• work from home
• hot-desk
• work on the move with a laptop or tablet

That takes in a large share of office, admin, finance, call centre and hybrid roles in and around Barking.

What your employer has to provide

If you're a DSE user and you ask for an eye test, your employer must arrange it and pay for it.

It has to be a full eye and eyesight test carried out by an optometrist or a doctor. That means a check of how well you see plus an examination of the health of your eyes, the same kind of test you'd have at a routine appointment.

The official guidance also expects repeat tests at the intervals your optometrist recommends, and a test whenever you're having visual difficulties that may be linked to screen work.

Your employer decides how to organise it. Some ask you to book with an optician of your choice and claim the cost back. Others send everyone to one practice or issue vouchers. Check with HR or your line manager before you book so you know which route applies to you.

When your employer pays for glasses

This is where most of the confusion sits.

Your employer only has to pay for glasses if your test shows you need a prescription specifically for the distance you view your screen at. If your normal glasses already work well at the screen, your employer doesn't have to pay for them.

In practice, this comes up most often in two situations.

You're over 40 and starting to struggle at the screen. Reading glasses are usually set for a closer distance than a monitor. You may need a separate prescription for that middle distance.

Your screen sits awkwardly between your other prescriptions. Some varifocal and bifocal wearers find their monitor falls in a zone their everyday lenses don't handle comfortably, so they end up tilting their head to find the sharp spot.

Where screen glasses are needed, employers usually cover basic frames and lenses. If you'd like something beyond that, you can normally pay the difference yourself. Your employer's policy will say what's included.

Do screens damage your eyes?

Screen work doesn't cause permanent damage to your eyes. Long spells at a screen can still leave you with tired eyes, discomfort, headaches, or a temporary blur when you look into the distance afterwards.

Screen work is demanding, so it often brings existing problems to the surface. A small prescription you've been getting by without, or the normal focusing changes that come with age, can suddenly become obvious when you spend most of the day at a monitor.

If that sounds familiar, our guides on headaches after reading or screens and why your eyes take a second to catch up go into more detail.

Signs it's time to ask for a workplace eye test

You don't need symptoms to ask. Any DSE user can request a test. These are the most common reasons people do:

• headaches that build through the afternoon
• eyes that feel tired, dry or gritty by the end of the day
• leaning towards your monitor, or tilting your head to read the screen
• distance vision that stays soft for a moment after screen work
• starting a new job that's mostly screen-based
• your last eye test was two or more years ago

Not sure when you were last tested? Our guide on how often you should have your eyes tested covers the usual intervals.

What happens at a workplace eye test at iology

When you book, let us know the test is for screen work.

At the start of the appointment we'll ask about your setup: how far away your screen sits, whether you use one screen or two, roughly how many hours a day you're on it, and whether you work from home, in the office or both. Screen distance matters most, because any prescription for screen work is based on it. A rough measurement from your eyes to the monitor is useful if you can take one before you come in.

The examination itself covers your vision at distance, reading distance and screen distance. It also checks how well your eyes work together and examines the health of your eyes.

Afterwards, we'll explain in plain terms whether your current glasses are fine for screen work or whether you need a dedicated pair. We'll also give you what you need for your employer's claim process.

If you're self-employed or your employer isn't sure

The DSE rules place duties on employers, so if you're self-employed there's no one to claim the cost from. You may still qualify for an NHS-funded eye test depending on your age, health and circumstances. Our guide to private vs NHS eye tests in Barking explains the difference.

If you're employed, use a screen daily and your employer isn't sure about the rules, the HSE guidance on eye tests for screen users sets them out clearly. HSE also has guidance for home workers using screens.

If you manage a team in Barking and want a simple arrangement for your staff's eye tests, get in touch and we'll talk it through.