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Help with health costs

Eyecare entitlements

Some groups of patients are entitled to free NHS sight tests and optical vouchers to help with the cost of glasses or contact lenses. 

Patients who are not eligible for NHS sight tests will pay privately for a sight test.

The section below will explain if you are entitled to a free NHS sight test or NHS optical voucher and how to claim them.

Am I entitled to free NHS sight test?

You qualify for a free NHS funded sight test if you are:

  • aged under 16, or aged under 19 and in full-time education
  • aged 60 or over
  • registered blind or partially sighted
  • diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
  • aged 40 or over and you are the parent, brother, sister, son or daughter of a person diagnosed with glaucoma, or you have been advised by an ophthalmologist that you are at risk of glaucoma
  • eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher

You are also entitled to a free NHS sight test if:

  • you receive Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (not contribution based)
  • you receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • you receive Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
  • you are awarded Universal Credit
  • you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
  • you are named on 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.

Also read about the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

NHS-funded mobile sight tests

An NHS-funded mobile sight test is where an optometrist comes to visit you in your own home or at a day centre.

If you are eligible for an NHS-funded sight test you may also be entitled to a mobile sight test. If you meet one of the criteria listed below then you may have your sight test at

  • home
    If you are unable to leave home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability
  • a residential or care home
    If you are a resident and you are unable to leave the home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability
  • a day centre
    If you cannot get a sight test at an optician's practice because of physical or mental illness, disability or because of difficulties in communicating your health needs unaided.

Tip: You may find more advice and support in our sections about adult social care and caring for someone with communication problems.

Am I entitled to an NHS optical voucher?

You may get help with the cost of glasses or contact lenses if you:

  • are aged under 16, or aged under 19 and in full-time education or
  • are eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher (your optician will advise you on your entitlement)

You may also get an NHS optical voucher if:

  • You receive Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (not contribution-based)
  • You receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
  • You receive Income-based Employment and Support Allowance.
  • You are awarded Universal Credit
  • You are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate.
  • You are named on 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.

You will be asked to show proof of your entitlement to optical vouchers to the optician or a member of their staff.

There are currently eight voucher values. The values are dependent on the strength of your prescription. The stronger your prescription the higher your voucher value. 

If you receive an NHS optical voucher, you are free to take it to any supplier of your choice, providing they accept NHS optical vouchers. If your glasses or contact lenses cost more than your voucher value, you will have to pay the difference.

For more information download the leaflet HC12: charges and optical vouchers (PDF, 52 kb).

How can I claim a refund?

Sight test fees

Ask the person who tests your sight for a receipt that shows that you paid for the test and the date of payment. Complete an HC5 claim form for optical charges (PDF, 33kb).

Glasses or contact lenses

If you have already used a voucher towards the cost of your glasses or lenses, you cannot get a refund unless it was a “complex lens” voucher. Nor can you claim a refund of the difference between the voucher value and the actual cost of your glasses or lenses, even if they cost more than the voucher value.

If you want to claim a refund, ask the person who supplies your glasses or contact lenses for a receipt that shows how much you paid, plus the date of payment. Complete an HC5 (PDF, 33kb) refund form and make sure you enclose your optical prescription and your receipt with your HC5 when you send it off.  The maximum refund you can get back will be the voucher value which matches your prescription.

Lost or damaged glasses or contact lenses

If your glasses or contact lenses have been lost or damaged and you pay for replacement or repairs, you will only be considered for a refund if you are entitled to a voucher.

More detailed information is in leaflet HC12 – charges and optical vouchers (PDF, 52 kb).

Comments

30 Comments

Our rules

Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

yydelilah said on 12 April 2013

I would be interested to know exactly what information the optician has to provide on the prescription.

Having just been and had my eyes tested, I've found that not only has the format of the prescription changed since the last time (2008) but also, some fields in the prescription have been left blank. I need two pairs on glasses - one for reading the other for computer-work. The optician refused to measure the inter-pupil distance unless I purchased the spectacles from them (£99) which then makes the business of ordering specs online difficult.
It seems that protectionism is rife, and many NHS opticians are reluctant to provide the statutory information if you intend taking the prescription elsewhere. It's time the NHS/Heath Authority and the government addressed this problem.

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User761347 said on 02 April 2013

Watchdog 64! Vouchers are issued by your optician when you have your test, just take proof of eligibility if necessary (eg if receiving benefit) and they will explain it to you. NB voucher values have increased, the previous posts are out of date

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Scotslad said on 27 February 2013

I have been unemployed for most of my life, I suffer from Aspergers Syndrome Disorder and panic attacks and I have found that my sight is starting to fail at distance and think I need glasses. I know the test is free but some people are saying the glasses would be free and other say I would need to pay. I was on income support but recently transferred to one of the new benefits, could someone clarify for me. I have other problems with my eye's but it's not covered by the NHS and would need to pay for tinted lenses so it's just standard distance glasses that I would need.

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R_88 said on 27 February 2013

How do NHS staff obtain vouchers for eye test/glasses? My manager is unsure of where to get them from?

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watchdog1964 said on 21 February 2013

ok, I've pretty much worked out I am entitled to a free eye test and voucher towards the cost of glasses/lenses but what I cant work out is how the hell I actually go about getting this? I would be grateful if anyone can point me in the right direction. it seems Benefit sites are designed to make it as difficult as possible to actually make a claim. :/

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glucocq78 said on 11 February 2013

fpl02
Your wife is entitled to a complex voucher only which is £14.00 for single vision lenses or £35.50 for bifocal/varifocal lenses.

Gareth

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KayTRobinson said on 10 February 2013

I have a valid NHS medical exemption card and I use this for my medication. Can this also be used for my glasses?

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fpl02 said on 31 January 2013

My wife is 62. She has a complex prescription with a dioptre reading of 12 which puts her in band 3. She is not claiming any of the benefits listed. Can somebody please tell me what level of voucher she is entitled to. I have been told various things and this site doesn't explain it very well.
Is she entitled to:-
1. Complex prescription voucher for £14.00
2. Band 3 amount of £82.60
Or some other amount?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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fpl02 said on 31 January 2013

My wife is 62. She has a complex prescription in band C (12 dioptres). She is not on any of the benefits listed.
Would anyone please tell us what NHS voucher she is entitled to. Is it:-

1. A complex lens voucher of £14.00
2. A voucher amount equivalent to Band C £82.60

or any other amount. I seem to be going around in circles when I check this, and other sites.

Any help will be gratefully appreciated

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User727367 said on 19 November 2012

I am aged 75 and a type 1 diabetic. I have worn soft contact lenses for about 30 years and buy them online from the USA.
My optician tells me that the free NHS sight test to which I am entitled only covers spectacle wearers, and because I only use contact lenses I must pay a fee. Is he right or should I change my optician?

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derek31a said on 11 September 2012

Can anyone tell me if there is any entitlement/discount for over 60's with type 2 diabetes?

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Eyesee said on 02 May 2012

The comments on here are quite interesting, particularly the ones claiming optical companies don't want you to get your nhs entitlement in regards to help towards your glasses.

The money you get off your glasses due to the vouchers still goes to the optician: instead of claiming the money from you, the optician claims the money from the NHS instead. So regardless of whether you pay the money or use a nhs voucher the optician is no worse/better off either way. They aren't trying to con you with vouchers because they don't gain anything from not telling you about the vouchers. If anything they will tell you about your entitlement because if it costs you less money you're more likely to buy - and the optician still claims the money you don't pay!

Secondly opticians can only work with the information you give them: if you don't tell them you receive benefits of any sort, how are they supposed to know? If you do, they should give you the voucher (for reasons stated above). Most opticians ask these questions as standard to ensure they don't miss nhs patients.

The voucher value code you are given relates to your prescription, basically the more complex (high prescription/prisms/high astigmatism) your prescription is the more money you get off, as these lenses tend to be thicker and benefit from features such as being thinned down, which costs more money to manufacture.

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star999 said on 23 March 2012

Sorry, don't know why my comment has gone on twice, I only pressed it once, honest!!!

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star999 said on 23 March 2012

" I've been searching this site and online for a couple of hours now and have not been able to find the info that I want. It's pretty simple. I want to know:

1. How much is covered by the NHS voucher for a child's glasses.

2. How to use / claim that allowance.

That's some of the most basic info anyone would come to this website for, surely, and it's pretty unimpressive not to find it here.

Can you fix this please? It will be too late for me, but may help others who want the same info. "

It is not a simple question.

There are different price bands for the vouchers.

My daughters voucher is a grade B which is £55.10 my friends son is a grade A which is £36.20. The garde will be on your childs voucher.

The opticians decides which grade your child needs and the information on how much they are worth is above.

The opticians should also provide everything you need which is taken off as soon as you order the glasses, so there is no how to claim/use that allowance.

I normally pay £35 over the voucher for my daughters glasses, if I went to one optician they would be completely free, but for my own reasons I choose not to use them.

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blakek said on 15 March 2012

Had to have an early eye test before christmas as i was concerned that the lighting in the new open plan office i was working in was affecting my vision. I had to pay for my eye test and didnt think anything of it as i knew this year i would be able to use my voucher to change my lens as there was a little change to my prescription. Went into my local specsavers last week to see about changing my glasses as the coating was coming off them and with my voucher would be able to have it at a cheaper cost. When i enquired what my voucher would be i was told that they thought i was private and i should have notified them that i was entitled to a voucher and costs towards my sight test. I was shocked as i have been with specsavers for 6 years and all my children are with them too for there sight test and glasses. When i poiinted out to them that they were aware from the moment i started going to them and that i have always just gone to them that it didnt enter my mind to consistently mention this as they keep a database of existing customers. The only response i had was they would try and findout if i can have a voucher re-issued, there was no apology for poor customer service, no assistance. Discovering that for the last 3 years i have paid full cost for my glasses and sight test and there was no apology from them was a huge surprise to say the least. I have learnt a very difficult lesson and intend to go to a different opticians where they know who you are and even if they dont they ensure they follow they information kept on there systems!!!!!!

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wabsbio said on 03 March 2012

I've been searching this site and online for a couple of hours now and have not been able to find the info that I want. It's pretty simple. I want to know:

1. How much is covered by the NHS voucher for a child's glasses.

2. How to use / claim that allowance.

That's some of the most basic info anyone would come to this website for, surely, and it's pretty unimpressive not to find it here.

Can you fix this please? It will be too late for me, but may help others who want the same info.

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Mr Mark Kerr said on 23 February 2012

Any complaints relating to NHS opticians - clinical, pricing, attitude etc should be made to your Primary Care Trust. Each optician has a contract issued by the PCT and that defines level of service etc. These contracts can be withdrawn, the practitioner asked to explain and respond to the complaint and in certain instances, an optician may be removed from the PCT's Performers List, which will result in him/her being unable to provide any NHS services. This does actually happen.

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glassesreglazedcouk said on 10 November 2011

not all opticians want to rip you off,shop around online for the best deals.

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chevyg30 said on 29 October 2011

Don't be bullied by sales people in any Opticians!! It's happening all of the time and has been for years. If you are not careful they will rip you off big time, will add so many things on that the price ends up shockingly expensive. What's more some take the full payment the smae day and you haven't even had time to try on the glasses at this stage.
Our tip is have your eye test and literally force them to work out how much the final cost of a pair of glasses will be. Get them to write down the price for you, line by line and including any NHS voucher discount. Don't select or buy your frame on the day instead tell them you will be going home to look through their website and this then gives you plenty of time to make your frame selection, plus they have more choice online. When you are ready phone them up and give them the frame number from their website and ask them to email you the price again. You can then email back to let them know that you would like to go ahead.
The other day both of us went to the Opticians and we had our strategy in place well in advance. I wear contact lenses and just needed the test as I buy these online at half the price. However, my glasses do need the lenses changing and as I don't wear these that often I wasn't prepared to pay a fortune. Shock or what when they quoted me £150 just for varifocal lenses! No way. I pinned them down big time, stuck to my guns so to speak, and miracle of miracles the price was eventually haggled down to a mere £25. That is some difference, not to mention an attempt at a hard sell with the wrong person.
We still have not committed to anything with them and are currently browsing their website to make frame selections. With the NHS voucher we are able to choose a designer frame of up to £169 + lenses comes to £204. We'll only have to pay a maximum of £65!
Don't be bullied, take your time, find out what you really are entitled to!

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Minus10 said on 03 October 2011

I have noticed a malpractice how the opticians use the NHS complex lens voucher. This is how it goes: the opticians make you sign the form that you have received the NHS voucher (without necessarily telling you what the form is about), and then they 'forget' to knock the voucher off your bill when you pay for your glasses. Because you have signed the form the optician can claim the money from the NHS. Nice extra income for them! This has happened to me twice now. - I would like the NHS to change the way how the opticians can claim money from the complex lens voucher. They would simply need to attach to the form a copy of the customer's receipt showing that the money actually has gone to the customer.

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madear said on 30 September 2011

It seems that adults in full time education (meaning young students that are still dependent on their parents) and not claiming any benefits are not included in any references in this instance.
Suddenly a parent who used to get free eye tests and glasses for their children has to pay full prices as soon as they hit 19. Is this the right assumption?
My son is still in college (his last year) and is now 19. Do I have to pay full prices for him? Is there some special student rate or something? He is overdue for an eye test and whilst I am ok with the cost of this, it is the cost of new glasses that I am worried about.
I would appreciate someone in the know advising me as I am clueless.

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C Walsh said on 05 June 2011

Thank you to aelinora, artyscoot and Sile Hujus for showing/locating the entitlements relating to prescriptions. This seems to almost be a state secret!

The information pages should also have a link to the HC3 form, which I cannot locate anywhere on the NHS Choices website, but they don't. Does no-one from the website admin side read these posts, to ensure that they add information that people need and are asking for?

The information others have provided shows that I could have been receiving up to £55 of help toward my glasses, but the opticians have never said so before... typical! My lenses are costing astronomical sums these days. And it seems I have had this potential entitlement for years.

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Sile Hujus said on 15 February 2011

#aelinora - thanks for the link to the ABC codes. The info has since moved within that renamed site. Go to: http://www.optometry.co.uk/voucher-values

If needing an explanation of eye prescriptions try: http://www.selectspecs.com/info/help-with-prescription/
or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeglass_prescription

Well done to anyone else who has found their way this far through the electronic labyrinth!



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Artyscoot said on 08 February 2011

The latest rates are included on this Wikipedia page: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/NHS_Optical_Benefits_in_the_UK

I've included the basic information below. I hope this helps!

Prescription Details 2010-11

A.
Single vision glasses with a sphere power not more than 6 dioptres, but with cylinder power not more than 2 dioptres.
£36.20

B.
Single vision lenses:
1. Glasses with a sphere power more than 6 dioptres, but less than 10 dioptres, with cylinder power not more than 6 dioptres;
2. Glasses with a sphere power less than 10 dioptres, and a cylinder power more than 2 dioptres but not more than 6 dioptres.
£55.10

C.
Glasses with a sphere power 10 or more dioptres, but not more than 14 dioptres, with cylinder power not more than 6 dioptres.
£80.60

D.
Single vision lenses:
1. Glasses with a sphere power of more than 14 dioptres, with any cylinder power;
2. Glasses with a cylinder power of more than 6 dioptres, with any sphere power.
£182.00

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SJR30 said on 03 September 2010

Just waded through all the pages myself to get here.

I've also spoken to NHS Business Authority and discovered as follows:-

You show your NHS entitlement certificate to your optician;

The optician then states on your prescription:-

(NHS) Voucher Issued Yes / No

And then they state what grade of voucher (from the A, B, C etc. list mentioned) based on how 'bad' (distorted) your eyes are.

That automatically then gives you a discount on lenses. The optician then claims the discount from the NHS; you have to pay the difference.

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aelinora said on 25 June 2010

The only place I could find an explanation of the ABC codes was here: http://www.otmagazine.co.uk/vouchervalues.php

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Bumblebye said on 04 March 2010

As with previous poster, I want an explanation of the alphabetised voucher rates. Such information should be accessible on this site. Also someone needs to correct the information on how to get the HC2 & HC3 cert, as it merely repeats the entitlement info. It's very frustrating to be unable to access full & proper information in a place where it ought to be readily available.

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beehummingbird said on 02 March 2010

Where it lists the Optical Voucher values there are different grades (A, B C etc), but it doesn't mention what these grades are or how they work them out. I think they might refer to how bad your sight is, but i'm really not sure.

They should say exactly what they mean by these grades, so that you have a clearer idea of the amount you can expect to get.

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beehummingbird said on 02 March 2010

Where it lists the Optical Voucher values there are different grades (A, B C etc), but it doesn't mention what these grades are or how they work them out. I think they might refer to how bad your sight is, but i'm really not sure.

They should say exactly what they mean by these grades, so that you have a clearer idea of the amount you can expect to get.

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Common Tater said on 31 July 2009

the written advice on this page and everywhere else in the health service (even the current lealfet HC12) makes no sense on charge for sight tests. Nowhere does it state what the charges are, and apparently they are free to all, anywhere you look, even the most up to date sites. But it then goes on to list those who get free sight tests.
Well, free to all or not?? and if not, how much?

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Last reviewed: 05/07/2012

Next review due: 05/07/2014

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Phone 0300 330 1348 for the dental services help line

Phone 0300 330 1343 for the Low Income Scheme help line

Phone 0300 330 1341 for queries about medical exemption certificates.

Phone 0300 330 1341 for queries about PPCs.

Phone 0300 330 1349 for the prescription services help line

Phone 0300 330 1347 for queries about tax credit certificates

Phone 0845 610 1112 to order a paper copy of the HC12 and HC5 forms

For all other queries call 0300 330 1343

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