Posted By GavinR Hi, Just wanted to double check about the employers requirement to provide corrective glasses after it has been identified in an eye sight examination. If user already wears glasses but needs to improve the lens and works more than 70% of time on VDU does the employer have a duty to pay for the cost of the new lenses for the user??? The regs state that employer shall ensure each user is provided with special corrective appliances were normal corrective appliances cannot be used. Any advice would be great! Cheers, Gavin

Posted By A. Fergusson Could we take this question a step further? If the employee did not previously require glasses but their VDU assessment show a need for glasses but not just for VDU work, where does the cost sit now. Should the employer pay the full cost? Should the employee contribute for the use outside of work?

Posted By Jim Walker As do Spec saver I think they currently charge us £17.50 Really its not worth quibbling about. One problem I had recently; operative in his DSE glasses got up to go somewhere a fell over as his DSE specs effectively "blinded" him to stuff at his feet. He declared it was his own fault - but we all know where these things lead to, don't we?

Posted By Bill Parkinson As a result of a visit by the HSE on this issue I have had to deal with this problem on a considerable scale. The employer is liable for issues arising from middle distance issues only. Those eligible for eye examinations are required to be users as defined within the regulations (this does not mention figures such as 70% etc. but there is some guidance in the Legal Guidance associated with the regs.). Users must request in writing an eye examination under the regs (otherwise employer does not have to contribute to the cost)and it must be carried out by a competent person under the Opticians Act (this excludes occupational health eye screening tests). The user needs to inform the optician that they use DSE (as they may not include the necessary checks in the eye test) and the optician needs to identify on the prescription that correct eyewear is required in relation to middle distance viewing (in addition to other adjustments where required). The employer is only liable for the cost in relation middle distance correction not near or far vision corrections. So if the user does not normally wear glasses then the employer has to pay for a standard frame and lens as required. If the user does wear glasses and there is no charge for changing the presciption the employer is not required to contribute. Anything above standard lenses etc the employer does not have to pay for. In my organisation of around 3000 defined users we have only been required to contribute a small amount of cost (hundreds of pounds not thousands). It should also be noted that if the person does not normally wear glasses but has corrective eye wear for middle distance use only they must not wear them for reading and certainly not for driving as they are based on a different focal length. Regards Bill