*Once you've checked your elegibility, enter this into our 'NHS elegibily check' on our Eye Store and the cost of your eye examination will automatically adjust to take account of your NHS voucher*
Free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers
Find out if you're entitled to a free NHS sight test or an optical voucher to reduce the cost of glasses or contact lenses.
If you're not eligible for NHS-funded sight tests or optical vouchers, you'll have to cover the costs yourself.
Free NHS eye tests
You're entitled to a free NHS sight test if you:
- are under 16
- are 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education (this includes being taught full-time at a school, college, university or at home)
- are 60 or over
- are registered as partially sighted or blind
- have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
- are 40 or over and your mother, father, sibling or child has been diagnosed with glaucoma
- have been advised by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) that you're at risk of glaucoma
- are a prisoner on leave from prison
- are eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher – your optician can advise you about your entitlement
You're also entitled if you or your partner – including civil partner – receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:
- Income Support
- Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit and meet the criteria
If you're entitled to or named on:
- a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice), you qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
- a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)
People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help with the cost of a private sight test.
Find out more about the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS)
NHS optical vouchers
You're entitled to an optical voucher for help towards the cost of your glasses or contact lenses if you:
- are under 16
- are 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education (this includes being taught full-time at a school, college, university or at home)
- are a prisoner on leave from prison
- are eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher – an optician can advise you about your entitlement
You're also entitled if you or your partner – including civil partner – receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:
- Income Support
- Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit and meet the criteria
If you're entitled to or named on:
- a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice), you qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
- a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)
People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help with the cost of glasses or contact lenses.
Find out more about the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS)
NHS complex lens vouchers
To be eligible for a complex lens voucher, your lenses need to be either -10/+10 dioptres or more, or prism-controlled bifocal lenses.
Complex lens vouchers are a contribution towards the cost of these lenses – currently £15.55 for single vision lenses and £39.90 for bifocal lenses.
The vouchers are only available to those who meet the clinical criteria and are not eligible for one of the main optical vouchers.
Mobile sight test
If you're eligible for a free NHS sight test, you may also be entitled to a mobile sight test. This is when an optometrist comes to visit you:
- at home – if you're unable to leave home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability
- at a residential or care home – if you're a resident and unable to leave the home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability
- at a day centre – if you cannot get a sight test at an optician's practice because of physical or mental illness or disability, or have difficulties communicating your health needs unaided
