The following equipment is suggested for the routine eye examination:

• accommodation rule
• Amsler charts
• applanation tonometer *
• appropriate ophthalmic diagnostic agents and drugs
• appropriate personal protective equipment (Including single use gloves, aprons and fluid resistant face masks. These must be available where the care is being delivered)
• colour vision test
• selection of condensing lenses for binocular indirect biomicroscopy techniques
• direct ophthalmoscope
• distance and near oculomotor balance tests
• focimeter
• hand washing facilities and signage where the care is being delivered
• keratometer
• letter matching card
• near vision tests (adults and children)
• near vision unit, for example Mallett unit
• pen torch
• appropriate peripheral visual field equipment (standard automated perimeter)
• retinoscope
• slit-lamp biomicroscope
• internally illuminated or digital visual acuity test charts (adults, children and language agnostic)
• suitable rule(s) for measuring frames/lens/PD
• test for stereopsis
• threshold controlled visual field equipment
• trial lenses, trial frame and accessories
• waste disposal facilities, signage and equipment.

* Non-contact tonometers are suitable for screening but contact applanation tonometers (preferably Goldmann) are preferred when considering referral and enhanced pathways.

You should ensure that your practice has appropriate testing equipment to ensure it is accessible for all people, including those with physical disabilities (for example you should have a hand held tonometer and trial lenses, if your phoropter or combi-unit is not compatible with wheelchairs).

The following additional equipment may be appropriate:

• autorefractor (objective or subjective)
• binocular headset indirect ophthalmoscope
• children’s acuity charts
• corneal topographer
• contrast sensitivity chart
• digital imaging system (such as a fundus camera, Optical Coherence Topography (OCT), anterior imaging, widefield imaging and fundus auto-fluorescence (FAF)
• gonioscopy lens
• equipment for foreign body removal
• equipment for punctum plug insertion and tear duct syringing
• indirect ophthalmoscope
• non-mydriatic camera
• pachymeter
• patient management system (PMS) including clinical records and facilities to access NHS.net mail and electronic referral systems, where available
• prism bars
• refractor head
• slit-lamp mounted camera
• supplementary vision charts (for example low vision charts, Sheridan Gardiner, Landolt C, etc).