Home eye tests in Solihull
Solihull patients who find high-street visits difficult can book a domiciliary sight test at home — including Shirley, Olton, Knowle and Dorridge. Randy Bains travels from Coventry for each appointment, bringing portable equipment and a frame range suited to older adults. NHS-funded and private visits are available, with evenings and weekends at no extra charge. Call 07458 693608 to check your postcode and eligibility.
When getting to a high-street optician is no longer practical
Solihull patients often tell us they used to drive to town for a sight test but now rely on family for every outing. A home eye test removes the taxi, the waiting room and the rush — particularly helpful after falls, when macular change affects confidence, or when dementia makes unfamiliar places upsetting.
Randy Bains visits personally (GOC 01-23736, 18 years in domiciliary care). Care home residents who cannot leave unaccompanied are included, alongside people in bungalows and family houses across Shirley, Olton, Knowle and Dorridge.
B90 to B94 coverage
Postcodes B90, B91, B92, B93 and B94 cover Solihull borough and nearby neighbourhoods. The town lies between Birmingham and our Coventry headquarters, so appointments slot into existing routes. Check an edge-of-borough address on 07458 693608 before arranging time off work to be present.
NHS or private?
Free NHS home visits require the patient is entitled to an NHS sight test and cannot leave home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability. Age alone does not fund the journey — though over-60s may still qualify for a free NHS sight test once they reach a practice. We untangle this on the phone using the criteria on NHS home eye test eligibility.
Self-funded tests are £75. Evenings and weekends cost no more — see weekend and evening home eye tests if your family needs to be there after work.
Examination and follow-up glasses
- Portable chart and lens tests in your chosen room.
- Health checks including eye pressure when indicated.
- Plain-English summary before we pack away equipment.
- Frame choice at home; delivery and adjustment on a return visit.
Most Solihull appointments finish within an hour. Medication lists and old glasses help us compare how vision has changed. You may use your prescription elsewhere — there is no obligation to buy from us. Voucher rules are explained on NHS optical vouchers.
Solihull care homes
We agree dates with managers, work around meal times where possible, and leave NHS documentation with the office. Eligible residents meet the national domiciliary rule: the patient is entitled to an NHS sight test and cannot leave home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability. Further reading: care home eye tests and what to expect.
In Shirley and Dorridge we often see patients who still live independently but no longer feel steady on buses or in multi-storey car parks. A home visit keeps the same clinical checks while respecting that independence.
If you are comparing private home eye tests with NHS funding, we explain the difference on the phone before anything is booked — no pressure to buy glasses on the day.
Olton and Knowle properties with steep drives are common — mention parking or steps when you book so we can plan setup time. The same GOC-registered optometrist who tested your eyes returns with finished spectacles rather than handing you to a different courier.
Many Solihull enquiries mention varifocals that no longer feel safe on stairs. Updated measurements at home can restore confidence for cooking, reading post and watching television without extra trips into Birmingham.
Dorridge and Knowle callers often ask whether a relative must sit in for the entire test — it is helpful but not compulsory if the patient can consent on their own. We note your preferences when the appointment is arranged.