Binocular vision

The POLA clinic

What is the purpose of binocular vision appointments in the POLA clinic?

Binocular vision appointments are for patients who have difficulty coordinating their two eyes together. Our team includes optometrists and orthoptists (eye muscle specialists), with experience of diagnosing and managing eye coordination and focusing problems in children and adults.

Who can be seen?

Patients of all ages can have binocular vision appointments. Children (up to the age of 18 years) with a suspect eye coordination or eye focus problem can directly book an appointment in the POLA clinic. Adults will be required to have an eye examination first within our Primary Care clinic who will internally refer to the POLA clinic should this be appropriate.

Book an appointment

Appointments can be made by contacting the main optometry clinic reception.

Phone: 0161 306 3860
Email: optometry.clinics@manchester.ac.uk

Cost

Binocular vision appointments are free of charge.

What happens at appointments?

The student optometrist or supervisor will ask some detailed questions about:

• your eye history;
• any previous spectacles worn;
• current general health.

Tests will be performed to assess your vision, depth perception, coordination of your eyes, spectacle prescription and eye focusing ability. It may be necessary for our team to administer eye drops to you during the appointment. These drops temporarily relax the eyes’ focusing ability, allowing the true spectacle prescription to be determined. This is particularly helpful in children who have lots of focusing ability.

If you are given any eye treatment (spectacles or eye exercises) you will attend a follow up appointment 4 to 6 weeks later.

It is important to allow up to two hours for the initial appointment, and one hour for follow-up appointments. This is because the appointments are very closely supervised by a qualified optometrist, and may involve the use of eye drops.

What to bring

Please bring along any current spectacles (if relevant).

It is also helpful to bring your most recent spectacle prescription, but do not worry if this isn’t available.

Please bring a list of any medications you regularly take.

Service lead

Dr Ketan Parmar.

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