Posted By Bob Thompson CMIOSH The regs state that employers are required to pay for the proportion of the corrective appliance related to computer use, we use the ACOR eye care voucher system . The allocated voucher for provision of corrective appliances is £50. The advice from them and other optical advisors is that there can be no problems caused by computer use, that will cost more than £50 to correct. If folk then want versaci frames they are on their own Regards Bob

Posted By andyp Specsavers offer a corporate eyecare plan that is far more cost efficient than the provision of corrective appliances costing in the region of £50. For the single price of £17 they offer an eyesight test in line with the VDU regs & also any corrective appliances from one of their range if required. There are no additional costs involved. Andy

Posted By Andrew M The way I work it is... If the you meet the cost of the cheapest, nastiest glasses that are fit for the purpose intended ie. reading DSE, you are covered. If the employee would like his from Oakley, Ray Ban or Dolce Gabbana they are more than welcome to pay the difference... Same with boots...

Posted By Ron Hunter Under DSE Regulations, the employer is required to pay for the basic frame and prescription required for the User's work - not just Computer work. Thus if bi-focal or vari-focal lenses incorporating a prescription sepcifically for DSE work is the recommendation of the optometrist (such as would be relevant to (e.g.) a receptionist) then the employer is liable for the whole lens costs NOT a "part thereof". Whilst such situations are not the norm, you will struggle to provide that for £50. Para 87 (Regulation 5) of L26 Guidance on the Regulations refers.

Posted By Rachael Palmer Brenda our all our staff are members of a health scheme and as such get an annual allowance towards the cost of eye tests & glasses. The canny ones get their eyes tested just before the renewal date & buy the glasses just after the renewal date. As the majority only required eye tests every two years this works out quite well. The allowance p.a. is currently £45.00. Andrew, employees are expected to go in their own time. Did have one chap who wanted us to bring in a mobile optician to test every one on site but financially and logistically it wasn't an option. He was told quite politely to go to find himself an optician the same as everyone else has to.