UK Greek Katerina Strimmenou on how Specsavers is changing lives through better sight
Katerina Strimmenou is from Athens, Greece, where she spent 12 years working as an optician, before relocating to London with her husband. She studied in Italy and completed an adaptation course upon arriving in the UK, along with a specialization in Glaucoma. Currently, she is finishing her Master’s degree to gain the ability to prescribe medication.
For the past six years, she has been working at Specsavers Palmers Green, where her responsibilities include prescribing glasses and contact lenses, as well as assessing eye health. The store also offers the Minor Eye Condition Service (MECS), allowing patients to seek care for various eye issues without needing to visit Eye Hospitals. They are able to serve as the first point of contact for eye-related concerns.
Katerina says, “Speaking Greek is an added advantage in the Greek speaking community, as many customers from Greece, Cyprus and Albania prefer to communicate in their native language. I enjoy conversing with them in Greek, and it’s heart-warming to see them feel comfortable enough to bring in Greek treats as a token of appreciation.
“Appointments can be made via phone, online booking, or by visiting the store. We are flexible and happy to accommodate requests for my services.
“It is an honour to work at this store and serve the Palmers Green community. I want to extend my gratitude to both the store and the Greek community for their support.
The Palmers Green Specsavers Store is situated at 359 Green Lanes, London N13 4JG. Tel: 020 8920 3150
You may ask for Katerina Strimmenou personally.
Eye tests
The NHS recommends that adults have an eye test every two years – not only to check changes in your vision but also the health of your eyes.
At Specsavers, we run a series of tests that give the optometrist a full analysis of your eye health. This means they can offer care that best suits you and your lifestyle.
Before you come in, a few things to remember:
If you wear glasses: Please bring your current pair to your appointment.
If you wear contact lenses: Please bring your glasses, contact lenses and, if you use them, case and solution, as you’ll need to remove your lenses for the examination.
If you’re having an NHS funded eye test: Please bring relevant proof that you qualify.
What happens in an eye test?
There are three main parts involved in our typical eye tests:
History and symptoms
This gives you the opportunity to discuss any concerns you have about your eyes, vision or current glasses, and whether you’re experiencing any symptoms which might need further investigation. Your optometrist will ask about your general health, medications, any past treatment on your eyes, or if there are any family members with eye conditions. All this information helps them to tailor the examination to best suit your needs.
The tests
We use a variety of tests and equipment to assess different aspects of your eye health and vision. Some are common to all eye tests – for example, the letter chart indicates how clearly you can see – while others may be used when further investigations are required, for example, to check if your eyes can see colour normally.
Some of the common tests, like the visual field test and the eye pressure test (puff of air test), can be performed by an optical assistant on behalf of the optometrist before the eye examination. These are known as pre-tests and help to make the process more efficient.
Summary and advice
Once all the relevant tests have been carried out, your optometrist will be able to discuss the results and offer any advice. This could be a simple ‘all clear’ on the eye health front, or they might talk you through particular lens options to match your prescription and lifestyle.
Treatments for any eye conditions are also discussed at this point, as well as possible referral to a specialist.
Special offer 2 for 1 glasses from £70
Free second pair
With our 2 for 1 offer, you can buy a pair of glasses from our £70 range or above and get a second pair from the same range for free (With single-vision lenses to the same prescription).
If you decide a designer frame is more your style then your second pair can come from the same price range too.
We have expert frame stylists in every store to ensure you find frames that flatter your face and complement your image. So if you can’t find your perfect pair online, come in store and we can help.
