Note: As of 20th Oct 2017 this service is unavailable via the H&S Office due to the retirement of the Admin. Assistant. The provision of the service centrally is under review due to the the above and the availability of competitive pricing from the main high street providers.

In the interim department management should arrange, (for its staff) at the minimum costs arising. This should be undertaken direct with the cheapest local service provider (eye vision testing ) taking account of the following  guidelines. Staff should bring any existing spectacles or lenses with them to the test and the provider should furnish a test report to the department.

 Health and Safety office 25th October 2017

Summary of the VDU eyesight screening services available to UCC staff via the Health & Safety Office:

STAFF VDU EYESIGHT SCREENING TEST

The Health and Safety Office operates a PC based VDU vision screening programme. New staff (all categories of regular VDU users - administration, technical and academic) should be advised to undertake same upon commencement of employment.

Existing staff who are experiencing eyesight difficulties relating to VDU use at work can have the test upon application to this Office. A computer based in-service VDU eyesight testing system is being used and there is an objective of providing repeat screening tests to staff on the following basis:

One screening test every 10 years in the 20/30 age group - unless where there is a VDU vision at work problem.
Biannual screening tests in the 40+ age group.

This screening test evaluates a number aspects of vision but only one aspect is of relevance to VDU use. If staff do not pass the specific VDU mid focal length aspects of the screening test the results may be examined by the University Occupational Health Physician in the first instance and depending on the OHP's advice a referral to the University's Optometrist for a VDU eye-sight test at the UCC's expense may result.

The UCC VDU screening test may also highlight that the employee's vision is perfectly adequate for VDU use at present (or whilst using pre-existing special corrective appliances already provided) but the screening test may recommend that the employee should consider having their vision examined due to other factors. ( This would be a separate  employee action with their own Optician).

An Optometrist's VDU vision test may also highlight pre-existing conditions, which may be resolved by normal corrective appliances (first time spectacle wearers or new prescriptions for existing wearers). Such appliances would not be at UCC's expense.

If special corrective appliances (single vision mid focal length lenses) are required for VDU use, then the employer - UCC is liable for the cost of same -  providing any such appliance previously provided by UCC has proved no longer adequate for their purpose, during the screening test.

UCC have made arrangements for the provision of a limited price range of special corrective appliances in a safety spectacle type frame. (Basic colour, durable frame and a polycarbonate lens). Staff who choose other frames/lenses or special treatments do so at their own cost and must arrange same directly with UCC's Optometrist. In such circumstances a financial contribution equivalent to the standard single vision mid focal length VDU spectacle will be reimbursed to the employee upon furnishing of a receipt.

Staff who already wear spectacles for reading or distance vision and who the optometrist deems requires special corrective appliances for VDU use have the option of (a)Being issued by UCC with a pair of spectacles specifically for VDU use which they must interchange with their own normal spectacles as necessary as they alternate between VDU use and other non-VDU work i.e. reading, filing, reception work etc. (These spectacles should be kept at the VDU station at all times). (b)Receiving a financial contribution equivalent to the standard single vision mid focal length corrective appliances and personally arranging through UCC's optometrist to obtain spectacles incorporating bi-focal/vari focal length lenses. In this way, the employee and the employer each contribute to a spectacle that fulfills the wearer's normal vision requirements and VDU vision correction requirements. (The wearer would however, be responsible for the cost of any repairs to these spectacles/frames).

Where the updating of a prescription for a normal corrective appliance will rectify an employee's VDU eyesight problems (i.e. where a person has a pre-existing eye condition and wears spectacles for reading), UCC is not liable for the costs involved.

Bills will not be considered for VDU tests/spectacles or Optician vision testing without going through the UCC Health and Safety Office VDU screening. Financial contributions under (b) above will only be paid to an employee upon furnishing of the necessary receipts. UCC will not cover optician cost for normal vision testing or normal corrective appliances.

N.B. In all cases where UCC provides a staff member with VDU Corrective Lenses (either incorporated with their own lenses or in special “stand alone” frames) they must be worn at all times by said staff member while engaged in VDU work in UCC.   If a problem occurs which effects the wearing/suitablility of the lenses, please contact the Health and Safety Office.