Our clinical services
What to expect from our services and appointments
Appointments last up to two hours, allowing plenty of time for a thorough examination using the latest eye-care technology, as well as an opportunity to discuss your eye health. Please bring any current spectacles, contact lens details, and your most recent prescription, if available.
Staff at the University of Huddersfield can use their DSE vouchers.
How to book an appointment
You can book an appointment online, or call the clinic on 01484 471520.
General adult eye examinations
We offer adult eye examinations, including for low vision patients, carried out by our third-year student optometrists under the supervision of fully qualified optometrists.
In the Eye Examination Student Clinic, a complete eye examination is available for all adults, including members of the public, staff and students. Sight tests are free of charge, regardless of NHS entitlement. Each examination is carried out by a student optometrist under the direct supervision of an optometrist registered with the General Optical Council. If you would prefer to be seen by a qualified optometrist, that option is also available when you book.
A range of specialist investigative equipment is available on a case-by-case basis depending on clinical need, including fundus photography, ocular coherence tomography (OCT), intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, visual fields and corneal topography.
Paediatric Clinic
We offer children’s eye examinations led by a GOC-registered optometrist, with third-year optometry students observing and assisting under supervision.
The Paediatric Clinic provides comprehensive eye care for children and young people under the age of 16 in a friendly, child-focused environment. Good vision plays a vital role in a child's learning and development, and as children rarely report problems with their sight, regular eye examinations are important for early detection. Routine eye care for all children under 16 is funded by the NHS.
The clinic is well-equipped to assess the eyes and vision of children of any age. During the appointment the optometrist will take a detailed history covering the child’s eye health, general health and details of any previous glasses. They will then carry out tests to assess vision, depth perception, eye co-ordination, eye health, and whether the child needs glasses to improve their sight. Third-year optometry students observe and assist with selected elements of the assessment under supervision. Eye drops may be required as part of the examination, and parents and carers are advised to allow up to one hour for the appointment.
Myopia Management Clinic
Short-sightedness in children develops because the eye grows slightly too long. The prescription is only an indication of that growth, and myopia that keeps progressing through childhood raises the lifetime risk of serious eye conditions in later life. Myopia management aims to slow that growth while a child is still developing.
Our Myopia Management Clinic is for children and young people under 16 with short-sightedness. Eye examinations for all under-16s are funded by the NHS, so a child can have their sight test here, and if myopia management is appropriate the optometrist will discuss the treatment options. These include spectacle lenses and contact lenses designed specifically to slow progression.
We also carry out optical biometry at this clinic. Rather than waiting for the prescription to change, biometry measures the length of the eye itself, which is far more sensitive to whether a treatment is working. The scan takes a few minutes, nothing touches the eye, and there is no charge for it. Children on myopia management have a scan at the start of treatment, a second six months later, and then annually, so their progress can be tracked over time.
Children receiving myopia management at other Valli Opticians practices also attend this clinic for their scans.
Contact Lens Clinic
The Student Contact Lens Clinic offers free fitting and aftercare services to both new and existing contact lens wearers. All consultations are carried out by student optometrists under the direct supervision of experienced, General Optical Council registered optometrists and contact lens practitioners. Contact lens technology has advanced considerably in recent years, and patients who have previously been unable to wear lenses may now find suitable options are available.
An extensive selection of lenses is offered, including soft lenses available as daily disposables, biweekly, and monthly replacements, as well as GP (gas permeable/hard) lenses. Multifocal lenses are available for the correction of presbyopia (difficulty reading up close), alongside myopia management to slow the progression of short-sightedness in younger patients.
The fitting appointment includes a comprehensive assessment to determine the patient's suitability for contact lenses, taking into account their lifestyle, prescription, and ocular characteristics. It also involves an examination of the front surface of the eye to ensure that contact lenses can be worn safely, an evaluation of the lens fit and comfort, and detailed guidance on the insertion, removal, and ongoing care of contact lenses. Regular aftercare appointments ensure the lenses continue to fit correctly, vision remains clear, and the eyes stay healthy. If you would prefer to be seen by a qualified optometrist, that option is also available when you book.
Dispensing services
Our optical dispensary supports your unique requirements for spectacles, safety glasses or adjustments of your own eyewear.
We provide a range of services in our optical dispensary, including:
- a wide selection of spectacles. We offer many lens options, including single vision, bifocal, and varifocal lenses, as well as thinner and photochromic lenses
- adjustments to your current spectacles to ensure continued comfort and optimal visual performance from your glasses
- specialist safety and sports eyewear.
You can contact us to discuss a dispensing query at university@valliopticians.co.uk or 01484 471520.
Workplace and safety eyewear
We provide eyecare for employers as well as individual patients, on campus and close to Huddersfield town centre. This includes eye tests and specialist eyewear for employers, including display screen equipment tests, DSE glasses and prescription safety glasses.
Display screen equipment (DSE) eye tests
Under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, employers must arrange an eye test for employees who regularly use display screens, on request, and must pay for spectacles where these are needed specifically for screen work. We carry out these tests and supply the eyewear. University of Huddersfield staff can use their DSE vouchers at this clinic.
Prescription safety eyewear
We supply prescription safety spectacles for industrial, laboratory and workshop environments.
Corporate eyecare schemes
- Employers can set up an account through the Valli Co-optic scheme.
- To discuss eyecare for your employees, contact corporate@valliopticians.co.uk or phone the clinic on 01484 471520.
Get in touch with our clinic team
To book any of our services, book an appointment online.
- Contact us via email: university@valliopticians.co.uk
- Get in touch over the phone: 01484 471520
