Rank: Forum user 
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Hello.
We have an employee whose work means she is covered by the DSE Regulations. Outside of work, she needs glasses for reading.
During her recent eye test, paid for by the employer, she was told that she needed a new prescription for her reading glasses. In addition, the optician said she needed another prescription for her DSE work.
Looking at INDG36, I think that without doubt the employer needs to cover any cost of the 'special' glasses needed for the DSE work.
Q1. Would you agree with this?
Q2. Do you think we are within our rights to quantify a reasonable upper limit on our contribution to these 'special' glasses, in general situations? We don't want everyone choosing Dolce & Gabana frames.
The employee wants to purchase bi-focals. Part of the product she is buying falls into the 'special' category (which the employer has to pay for) and part of the product falls into the 'normal' category (which the employer does not have to pay for).
One company Director's take on this is that the company will only contribute to the cost of spectacles specified for DSE work only. As these bi-focals are not just for DSE work, he is not willing to contribute. The employee disagrees with the Directors interpretation of his duties. I have been asked to offer advice.
Q3. What is legal stance in this situation? Should the company pay for the bi-focals?
Q4. What 'sensible' approaches have you adopted to DSE glasses provision?
Thanks.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Are her reading glasses really different to her DSE ones. If so then you need to pay for them as in Reg 5.5. However they only need to do that job and someone like Specsavers will cover this on a voucher scheme to save any real effort on your part
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Q1: Yes, agreed. Just the DSE part of the prescription.
Q2: Yes, within your rights but you may find it difficult arriving at a reasonable figure. Have a look into voucher schemes which mean no cash changes hands and applies uniform standard for tests, glasses etc.
Remember bifocals can introduce silly head postures but I'm not aware of anything that says you have to have separate specs for each task.
Q3:Company isn't obliged to pay for the whole appliance, just the DSE bit
Q4: A voucher scheme
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Rank: Super forum user 
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The HSE ACoP and guidance is pretty clear on what is needed and there is additional advice from the Association of Optometrists at http://www.aop.org.uk/se...l/visual_1010158725.htmlAs for question 4 - we use a voucher scheme with a well known high street chain and this has proved to be excellent value for money - £17.50 for a test AND single vision VDU specs if required or a £45 contribution to other VDU specs or a £20 contribution if specs required for any other reason. The scheme works well for us in drastically reducing the admin costs etc and staff are generally very pleased with the scheme and the service provided.
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Rank: Forum user
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Q1 Yes - I agree
Q2 Yes - I agree, they need to be fit for purpose for work, not fashion accessories. (Also they only need to be fit for work.) But see also Q3
Q3 The company only need to pay for the DSE requirement. However, the best solution for all may be bi-focals. Where I work we would allow Bi-focals, and contribute the cost of the DSE spectacles to the total cost. (Adding to my answer to Q2 - if the individual wanted D&G, again we would contribute the cost of the basic DSE spectacles so long as they remained fit and available for work).
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Rank: Super forum user
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Sorry - just to correct myself - not ACoP but is guidance, as far as question 3 goes, do read the guidance http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l26.pdf, paras 85 - 89 deal with liability for costs and take note of para 87.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Where the prescription is for OR incorporates a prescription specifically for DSE WORK then the employer pays for prescription lenses and basic frames.
Paragraph 81 of L26 refers, and relates to "display screen work" and NOT merely the 'Display' itself.
If the 'DSE work' includes reading (e.g. copy typing from small typeface hard-copy) or other routine change of focal distance (e.g. receptionist) then again you would be required to pay for bi- or vari-focal lenses and basic frames.
The alternative would be somewhat non-sensical, with your employee repeatedly having to change spectacles?
The bottom line: varifocals and basic frames can be had for less (often a lot less) than £50 from major retailers
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Rank: Super forum user
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Where the prescription is for OR incorporates a prescription specifically for DSE WORK then the employer pays for prescription lenses and basic frames.
Paragraph 81 of L26 refers, and relates to "display screen work" and NOT merely the 'Display' itself.
If the 'DSE work' includes reading (e.g. copy typing from small typeface hard-copy) or other routine change of focal distance (e.g. receptionist) then again you would be required to pay for bi- or vari-focal lenses and basic frames.
The alternative would be somewhat non-sensical, with your employee repeatedly having to change spectacles?
The bottom line: varifocals and basic frames can be had for less (often a lot less) than £50 from major retailers
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Rank: Super forum user
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Oops! posted twice. Ah well, that'll hurry along the "Super User" status!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Cheeky Ron - that actually ended up as 3 posts! But yes you're right it would almost certainly be a nonsense in most cases to keep swapping specs, and the last sentence of para 87 of L26 makes it clear that if bi focals are prescribed (but note the cautionin para 83) as a special corrective appliance i.e. 'VDU specs, then the employer is responsible for paying for the basic frames the the prescribed lenses.
Yessssssss yet another post!
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