Home eye tests for patients with dementia
Dementia is a progressive condition that affects cognitive abilities, including how someone uses their vision day to day. Some patients experience difficulty focusing, double vision or problems judging distance — which can make familiar rooms feel harder to navigate. A home eye test brings the full sight test to where the patient feels safest, with extra time and a dementia-aware approach. Randy Bains, our GOC-registered optometrist with 18 years' experience in domiciliary care, carries out each visit personally across the Midlands. Call 07458 693608 or use the booking form below to arrange a visit for yourself or a relative.
How dementia can affect vision
Dementia is a progressive disease that affects a person's cognitive abilities, including how they use their vision. Patients with dementia often experience changes such as difficulty focusing, double vision and problems with depth perception. That can make daily activities harder and affect confidence moving around the home.
Vision problems are not always caused by dementia itself — cataracts, glaucoma and updated glasses needs are common in later life too. A thorough sight test helps separate treatable eye conditions from the visual changes that come with cognitive decline, so families know what can be improved with lenses or hospital care.
Why home eye tests help
Home eye tests for patients with dementia are carried out where the patient lives — there is no need for transport to a clinic or hospital unless referral is clinically appropriate. That matters when mobility is limited, when a waiting room would be overwhelming, or when someone feels anxious about unfamiliar surroundings.
Testing at home is more convenient when travel is difficult, keeps the patient in a familiar and comfortable environment, and allows personalised care: the optometrist can see lighting, stairs and reading habits that affect how vision works in real life. It also gives access to eye care for people who might otherwise struggle to attend a high-street practice.
Who can have an NHS-funded home visit?
An NHS-funded domiciliary sight test applies when the patient is entitled to an NHS sight test and cannot leave home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability. We confirm both parts before booking — see our NHS home eye test eligibility guide. Dementia is a common reason families call us, but funding depends on the housebound rules, not the diagnosis alone.
If NHS funding does not apply, a private home eye test is £75 — the same examination and portable equipment, with evening and weekend visits at no extra cost. Our home eye test cost guide explains who pays what in plain language.
How we adapt the examination
Randy Bains adapts domiciliary eye tests for dementia and memory problems: slower pace, simpler language, and flexibility about the order of tests. A familiar relative or carer can stay in the room. The clinical checks match a practice test — vision, prescription, eye health and eye pressure where appropriate — using portable equipment brought to the patient.
Most appointments take 40 to 60 minutes, with extra time allowed when someone tires easily or needs reassurance. See what to expect at a home eye test for the step-by-step flow, and our page on eye tests at home for the elderly for wider context on NHS and private visits for older adults.
Learn more about Randy's approach on his clinical profile.
After the test: glasses and magnifiers
If a patient with dementia is experiencing vision problems, treatment may include updated corrective lenses to improve clarity and reduce symptoms such as double vision or blurred vision. Magnifiers can help with reading and other tasks that need finer detail when glasses alone are not enough.
Home eye tests can identify changes in vision over time so any new prescription or referral is tailored to the patient's needs. Frames can be chosen at home, then supplied, delivered and fitted on a return visit. You are never obliged to order glasses from us; you receive a written prescription either way. Read how NHS optical vouchers work if the patient may qualify for help with glasses costs.
Booking for a relative or care home
You can book on someone else's behalf — most enquiries come from sons, daughters and carers. Our booking a home eye test for a relative page lists what we ask for, how consent works on the day, and what to do if you live in a different town from the patient.
If the patient lives in a care home, we liaise with staff to agree dates and support during the visit. Care home eye tests and optician visits explains scheduled rounds for managers; the same optometrist can visit private homes and care homes across the Midlands. For the wider definition of domiciliary care, see domiciliary eye care.
Book a home eye test
Call 07458 693608 or use the form below. Home eye tests for patients with dementia are available across Coventry, Birmingham, Solihull, Warwickshire and surrounding areas — including weekend and evening appointments at no extra cost when a quieter time of day suits the patient better.
Areas we cover
We are based in Coventry and visit patients across the Midlands. Choose your area for local details, or call 07458 693608 if you are unsure whether we cover an address.