Free Eye sight tests - DSE

The employer is required to pay the full cost of any PPE including screen glasses and yes they do belong to the employer cause they paid for them - simple'sss.

For sure they is not gonna wanna pay for fashion or vanity frames and that is up to you but the single screen distance prescription lenses are their responsibility.

However, whilst not obliged to pay for varifocal lenses it would be worth discussing the advantages of byfocals with a reading distance prescription where you need reading glasses to save valuable time and "reduce the risk" of having to habitually swap reading for screen glasses whilst working on screen.

Of course, 'they' may not see a 'performance cost/benefit' or not may not value you enough to consider paying for this option in which case you may still find it worth while to contribute yourself in order to reduce your risk of screen fatigue.

With regard to DSE work as with any other equipment you should have both an induction on use of equipment, calibration and setting in addition to a risk assessment including visual.

As at this time there is no visual risk assessment other than an eye test to ditermine whether you have any refractive deficit that requires PPE screen glasses as an aid to digital literacy nevertheless, calibration and custom setting remain vital components of prolonged DSE operation and you will still need to ensure sufficient contrast, brightness (3 to 1 ratio ambient lighting) and font size adjustment to reduce visual stress of the user.

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

Hi Martha
The employer only has an obligation to supply single presciption lenses (for the VDU distance) if that focal length differs from your normal reading glasses. There's no obligation to supply bi- or varifocal lenses, so most employers would pay a contribution matching the cost of basic frames and single prescription lenses, with the employee making up the difference.
For example, my empoyer has paid for (unflattering) frames and single (DSE) prescription lenses for my use solely at my workstation. They live in my desk drawer and never leave the building. But in the past I've had varifocal lenses with frames of my own choice, and I've paid the diference, using my glasses outside as well as inside the office. And, to be honest, by moving my lighter, LCD screen monitor closer, I could manage with my reading glasses and save my employer the trouble of providing glasses at all.
If your lenses cost £104 I suspect they're not single prescription and they fulfil sight correction needs beyond DSE requirements.

I understand that regulation 5 stipulates that anyone who is classified as a DSE user, is entitled to a free eye and eyesight test from their employer should they request one.

I also understand that if needed the employer has to also fund corrective appliances but I am not sure if there is a limit for how much we (the employer) have to pay, especially if we only have to provide basic frames.

I see that most companies pay around £50 (which matches the NHS contribution to frames), but I am unclear how this will be sufficient legally when it comes to providing lenses and frames (my VDU lenses alone cost £104).

Please can someone help as if we (the employer) offer £60 for the appliances is this realistically covering our legal obligation to fund lenses and frames?
thanks