COVID UPDATE - August 2021
We are open Monday – Saturday from 9-5pm and are CLOSED between 1-2pm.
We now operate a locked door policy. You must have an appointment to visit the practice. Please call us on the number above to book an appointment (this includes appointments for spectacle repairs and adjustments).
Your Local Independent Practice
Fraser Optical is a modern, independent practice located in the heart of Beauly, on the outskirts of Inverness.
As an established independent practice, we take the time to treat all our patients as individuals. We have invested substantially in new technology and equipment for detecting and diagnosing eye conditions, so that our optometrist can provide you with the highest standard of eye care, in our fully air conditioned test room.
Visit or call us to experience our excellent customer services and meet our professional staff who will provide you with the level of service you deserve.
How can we help...
Here's what our patients say...
"First visit to Fraser Optical today and was impressed. Sparkling clean premises, covid compliant. Friendly and helpful staff. Most detailed and informative eye check I [...]
I Grazier
"Very professional, excellent service. Always willing and able to help whenever I've needed them. Can't recommend highly enough!"
M Gosling
"Wow! What a fantastic experience having my eyes tested today. Having only previously been to high street chains I didn't realise the level of service [...]
M Goodwill
Need an appointment?
The quickest and easiest way to make an appointment is by booking online.
Frequently asked questions...
Are sight tests free of charge?
NHS eye examinations are free to people ordinarily resident in the UK or who belong in one of the categories for exemption from NHS charges set out in the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Scotland) Regulations 1989. If you are looking for a second opinion – this is not covered by the NHS and must be paid for privately. Home visits are also free of charge for those eligible. For more information as to whether you or someone you know would qualify for a home visit – please contact us.
I receive benefits - am I eligible for free spectacles?
NHS OPTICAL VOUCHERS (towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses) You can get vouchers if you:
- are under 16;
- are in full-time education and aged 16, 17 or 18;
- need complex lenses;
- are getting, or your partner gets: Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate;
- are named on a valid HC2 certificate issued under the terms of the NHS Low Income Scheme
- If you are named on a valid HC3 certificate you might get PARTIAL help.
NOTE: If your glasses or contact lenses cost more than your voucher value, you will have to pay the difference
Can you supply varifocal lenses?
We can supply varifocals from leading suppliers such as Essilor, Nikon, Hoya and Zeiss. If you are interested in a specific type of lens not mentioned, we will try and source this for you. We offer a 30 day return period for first time varifocal users – so if you would like to try them for up to 30 days, you have peace of mind that if you find they are not suitable, we will replace the varifocals with your lens of choice (usually single vision or bifocals) and refund you the difference in cost between the two lenses.
If a patient has difficulty in communicating, is it still possible to conduct an eye test?
Our Optometrist does not just establish if people need glasses. He provides an “eye health check” to discover if people have infections or sight-threatening conditions. You don’t have to be able to talk or read in order to have your sight tested. There are tests developed for patients with limited communication.
Where people cannot fully or partly participate, there are sight tests that record an individual’s reflexes and involuntary movements. We can supply our ‘Telling the Optometrist about Me’ form which will help to provide information to our Optometrist before the examination. This gives us information on a patients history and how best to help them feel at ease when they come along for their appointment. We aim to offer a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and can also make arrangements for any patients who feel nervous about their eye test, to come along and visit our friendly staff, meet the optometrist and take a look around the shop.
We have a disabled parking space in our carpark and our test room is wheelchair friendly. Our frame display bars were purchased and positioned with wheelchair users in mind. Unfortunately we do not have wheelchair friendly toilet facilities.
I am housebound. How do I arrange a home visit?
Please contact us on 01463 78 23 23 or email reception@fraseroptical.co.uk and we will discuss your requirements. To qualify for a free home visit (paid for by the NHS) you must be unable leave your place of residence unaided. If you are able to get to a high street practice by the use of (for example) a bus or taxi, you would not qualify. If you are unsure as to whether you qualify, our staff can provide you with more information.
How much does the home visiting service cost?
The sight test fee is paid for by the NHS. All British residents who reside in Scotland are eligible for a free sight test. There are no charges or call out fees for having a sight test at your home or residence if you are housebound or unable to travel unaided. If you are not eligible for a free house visit, you can pay a private fee for the optometrist to see you at home. Please contact us if you are unsure if you qualify.
In what areas do you provide domiciliary visits (eye tests at home)?
We travel throughout the Highlands. To find out if and when we can visit your area, please contact us. There may be a waiting list for remote areas.
Can you supply spectacles for someone who receives a home visit?
We carry over 300 frames with us – so there is plenty of choice. We have a wide range including stainless steel, titanium, rimless, supra and plastic frames. Patients who receive eligible benefits (Income Support/ Pension Credit/NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate/HC2 Certificate) are entitled to a voucher towards the cost of spectacles (Some spectacles are FREE under the NHS voucher scheme). Patients in receipt of an HC3 Certificate will receive part help towards the cost of their spectacles. For more specific details on costs, please contact us.
Who will attend our house if we have a home visit?
One of our highly experienced Optometrists and one of our fully trained optical assistants. All of our staff have enhanced disclosures and are registered with any necessary bodies. We have been providing house visits since 2004 and all staff are fully trained. The house visit should last approximately 1 hour.
The patient is bed bound. Is it still possible to conduct a sight test?
The test chart and all equipment are fully mobile. We carry a portable slit lamp at all times for those patients who are bed bound. The slit lamp is used for checking the health of the eye. Our optometrist has conducted eye tests for patients who are unable to sit upright. Sight tests have been conducted with patients lying flat on their back in bed.