Many people are entitled to a NHS sight test for which there is no charge. You may be one of them.
The Department of Health estimates that 17.2 million eye examinations were conducted in the UK in the 12 months to 31 March 2004 and, of these, 11.4 million were paid for by the NHS.
Check the following list to see if you are entitled to a free examination provided by the NHS. If so, you may also be entitled to a voucher to offset the cost of any spectacles or contact lenses prescribed.
The Department of Health estimates that 17.2 million eye examinations were conducted in the UK in the 12 months to 31 March 2004 and, of these, 11.4 million were paid for by the NHS.
Check the following list to see if you are entitled to a free examination provided by the NHS. If so, you may also be entitled to a voucher to offset the cost of any spectacles or contact lenses prescribed.
- Children under 16 or under 19 still in full-time education
- People of 60 years and older
- Those who receive, or whose partner recieves, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance or pension credit guarantee credit
- Diabetics
- Glaucoma sufferers
- People aged 40 or over with a close relative who has or has had glaucoma
- People advised by an ophthalmologist that they are at risk of glaucoma
- Those who are registered blind and partially sighted
- People entitled to NHS complex lens vouchers
- Those entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit certificate or named on a valid HC2 certificate
If your doctor has referred you to a hospital to have an eye examination it will always be free.
If you think you may qualify for a free eye examination, pick up the leaflet HC11 - Are you entitled to help with health costs? This is available from optometrists, post offices, social security offices, NHS hospitals and your local GP surgery.
If you are not on this list you can expect to pay around £20-£30 plus for a 20 - 30 minute examination, although some optometrists may also charge for additional services such as retinal photography , the fee charged will depend upon various factors including the exact content of the eye examination.