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
National Healthcare System
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.
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.
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.
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