Privay Policy

At HD Eyes Opticians, we take your privacy seriously. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal and clinical information in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Information We Collect

To provide you with high-quality eyecare, we collect the following types of information:

Personal Identifiers: Name, address, date of birth, and contact details (phone/email).
Clinical Records: Results of eye examinations, prescriptions, and health history (e.g., diabetes or family history of glaucoma).
NHS Data: Your NHS number and eligibility details if you are receiving an NHS-funded sight test.
Financial Information: Payment details for the purchase of glasses, contact lenses, or accessories.

2. How We Use Your Data

We process your data based on legal obligation (for clinical records) and legitimate interest (to manage your appointments). We use it to:

3. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your data. We only share it with third parties when necessary, such as:

Specialist Labs: Sharing your prescription with manufacturers like Zeiss to create your custom lenses.
The NHS: To process funding for sight tests and optical vouchers.
Medical Professionals: With your consent, we may refer your results to your GP or an ophthalmologist if further medical attention is required.
Regulatory Bodies: If required for audits by the General Optical Council (GOC) or NHS England.

4. Data Retention

In line with best practices from the College of Optometrists, we typically keep clinical records for 10 years. Records for children are kept until they reach age 25.

5. Your Rights

Under UK law, you have the right to:

Access: Request a copy of the data we hold about you.
Rectification: Ask us to correct inaccurate information.
Erasure: Request deletion of data (though this may be limited by our legal obligation to keep clinical records).
Object: Opt-out of marketing communications at any time.

6. Contact & Complaints

If you have any questions or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us:

If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

7. Online Bookings & Enquiries

When you use our online booking form or contact us via the website, we collect the personal information you provide to manage your request.

Data Collected: Name, telephone number, email address, and preferred appointment times.
Purpose: We use this data solely to contact you to confirm your appointment and to prepare your clinical record ahead of your visit.
Security: Our website uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to ensure that the data you submit via our web forms is transmitted securely.
Third Parties: We may use secure third-party platforms to manage our booking system. These providers are strictly prohibited from using your data for their own marketing purposes.

8. Cookies and Digital Tracking

Our website uses cookies—small text files placed on your device—to improve your browsing experience.

Strictly Necessary Cookies: These are essential for the website to function, such as allowing you to navigate pages and access secure areas like the booking form.
Analytical Cookies: We may use tools like Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our site (e.g., which pages are most popular). This data is typically anonymised and does not identify you personally.
Managing Cookies: You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept them, but you can usually modify your browser settings to decline cookies if you prefer. Please note that disabling cookies may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website’s features.