Eye test at home: how a mobile optometrist works in Gauteng

What is a mobile optometrist?

A mobile optometrist is a registered optometrist who travels to patients instead of working from a shop or practice. The qualification is the same and so is the professional body: every optometrist in South Africa, mobile or not, must be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and must follow its rules. The difference is simply where the test takes place.

How an eye test at home works

1. You send a WhatsApp. Tell us your area and what you need: a test for yourself, your family, your staff or your learners.
2. We agree a day and time. The optometrist comes to the address you choose.
3. The optometrist sets up. The testing equipment comes with us. All we need is a reasonably quiet room and somewhere for you to sit.
4. Your eyes are tested. The test covers your sight at distance and up close, your prescription, how your eyes work together and the health of your eyes. What happens during an eye test describes each step.
5. You get your results. The optometrist explains what they found. If you need glasses, you can choose a frame and lenses, with the test included in the package price.

If the optometrist sees anything that needs treatment or further investigation, you will be referred to the right place, such as an ophthalmologist or your doctor.

Who a home eye test suits

• Busy households. Everyone is tested in one visit, with no driving, parking or waiting room.
• Older people. A relative who no longer drives, or who finds outings tiring, can be tested in their own chair. See eye tests for elderly parents at home.
• People without easy transport. The optometrist does the travelling.
• Children. Many children are more relaxed at home than in a clinic.
• Workplaces. Staff are tested at the office without taking leave. See eye testing at work.
• Schools and events. A whole group can be tested on one day.
• Drivers. We also do the eye test for a driver's licence renewal.

Areas See Better covers

See Better works across Gauteng. There is no practice to visit, because we come to you.

If your suburb is not listed but you are in Gauteng, send us a message anyway.

What it costs

An eye test at home is R450. If you need glasses, a complete pair including the test, a frame and tinted lenses costs R1199 with single vision lenses, R1699 with bifocals and R2099 with multifocals. All glasses carry a 1-year warranty. We are registered with most medical aids and charge at medical aid tariffs. For how that compares, see what an eye test costs in South Africa.

Is a home eye test as good as one in a practice?

For a routine eye test, yes. The core checks are the same, and they are done by the same kind of registered professional. What a mobile visit cannot always include are scans that need large machines fixed in one place. If your optometrist thinks you need one of those, they will tell you and refer you. For most people who simply need their eyes and prescription checked, a home visit covers everything.

How to get ready

• Have your current glasses and your last prescription to hand.
• Write down any medication you take.
• Keep your medical aid card and ID nearby if you are claiming.
• Choose a room with space to sit comfortably and not too much noise.
• If several people are being tested, let us know when you book so we can allow enough time.