Posted By Jay Joshi If the employee is a designated "user", you have to make a provision for a re-test if requested by the user. The existing guidelines indiacte a 2 year frequency, unless prescribed otherwise

Posted By water67. Hi, seems like the same old issue re tests and glasses for DSE. Tests are usually scheduled for every 2 years but this can be changed by circumstances or advice from the optician. In some instances for example - a history of eye disorder: glaucomaetc. in a family would mean more frequent tests although these are generally free. It should be remembered that specs for DES use are exactly that and the eye test should be specific for that purpose (at the correct distance which simulates the distance from person to screen), and not, as is often the case, a subsidy for normal reading specs. In reality only around 15%-20% of people that wear corrective eye specs need separate ones for DSE use. Also it should be remembered that the guidance is aimed at providing the minimum standard we can go beyond that. it is also guidance and not tablets of stone.. thus initiative, judgement etc.can be used. Cheers.

Posted By Martin Mulholland FAO Marcus74 Thanks - it was the fact that people with glasses already that was a possible issue. FAO Coshh Assessor Really - for a post that asks for assistance your response is less than helpful and probably a waste of your time as well as mine.

Posted By Marcus74 Martin In your original post you suggested that there was a grey area regarding people already wearing prescription glasses and that the guidence wasn't clear. The purpose of my reply, and I apologise if it came across as sarcastic, un-informative or in fact a complete waste of time, was to conclude IMO that there is no grey area because whether they already wear glasses or not is not actually relavant. The shear fact that an employee uses DSE regularly entitles them to the eye test, re-tests etc. Glasses, no glasses, contact lenses, false eye, it really doesn't matter. Whether you, I or anyone for that matter thinks its wrong for the employer to pay if an employee already wears glasses may be a point of discussion, but as far as the regs go I don't see the grey area that you asked for advice about.

Posted By Martin Mulholland Marcus74 Your view did not at all come across as "sarcastic, un-informative or in fact a complete waste of time" (unless you also posted under the name "Coshh Assessor" that is). On the contrary, your responses were helpful and I thank you for the time that you have spent on this for me. My "grey area" was that I had to be absolutely certain that this was the case before proceeding. Your responses have cleared that up for me. Thanks.

Posted By Simon Rosser I wear glasses - I am a User of Display Screen Equipment. Recently I started noticing that my vision was deteriorating when reading, looking at the monitor etc. I spoke to my company HR and they said that depending on the recommendation of the Ophthalmic Optician they would pay for both glasses and appointment if the optician stated that the cause was/could be related to DSE use. This was the case and I now have two pairs - one for normal use and one for DSE/reading. Age creeps us on many of us- some it overtakes by leaps and bounds. Just because one wears glasses doesn't mean that the claim can be made for normal corrective vision equipment - and so there is no need for a company to pay for these. If the optician advises that the requirement for a new prescription is related to DSE then the company will have to pay. Perhaps if your company does regular routine medicals a basic eyetest could highlight when a users condition is deteriorating and this be used to support that persons claim when backed up by a qualified optician. Regards Simon

Posted By Marcus74 Simon and holmzey The original post is asking the question of whether the company are required to pay for a DSE users eye tests if he/she already wears glasses for corrective vision, and the answer is yes. You are both correct stating that the company do not have to pay for glasses prescribed for anything other than DSE (and maybe prescription safety glasses) but this question wasn't in the original post.