A - Z Challenge 2024 - O is for Optician

This year I'm blogging about my local area.  

My area?  Highams Park which is in the borough of Waltham Forest in North East London, (UK) a little known place that nestles between Chingford and Woodford that most people only come to if they have a specific reason to - if not we usually get bypassed.  Suits us.

Having lived in Forest Gate in East London for 36 years (and for my husband 65 years!) moving was a big deal for us.  But we've been in Highams Park since September 2020 so I feel I know enough about it now to fill out 26 posts! 

We've only moved just over 5 miles but we didn't know this area at all before moving here.  Although of course we did have a good look around when looking for a house and there were a number of things we wanted on our check list.

Phew I'm flying by the seat of my pants now as I'm preparing this post the day before it will be published and I don't have any other posts ready yet either.

But aptly today I had an appointment with the optician.

The optician is on the parade of shops opposite the station so just a 10 minute walk away.  I hadn't been since late 2021 so I was a bit overdue for my check up.  Fortunately it all went well.  In fact I'm less short sighted now than before which is good but of course meant new glasses.  I could have opted just to change the lenses in my current pair - I thought that would mean being without them for days but apparently they can fit new lenses on site and it only takes about an hour, maybe two.  But, as I have to wear them all the time, I felt justified in getting new frames.  That means I will still have the old pair for emergencies.

It was a very thorough check - as well as ensuring they prescribe the right lenses they also do an electronic scan, do a pressure test and an electronic test of peripheral vision.  

I'm thankful that everything seemed fine and hopefully my new glasses will be ready in about 10 days time.

Hubby has also been to this optician and they picked up a slight problem with his eyes and were able to refer him to Moorfields - a London Eye hospital that again is within fairly easy reach of us.  So far it is just a case of monitoring him but at least now if things change he will get the treatment he needs.

A good local optician was on our checklist when we moved here and thankfully we have one.