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
- 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-related 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
- 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-related 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, 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 £14.90 for single vision lenses and £38.15 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
How can I claim a refund?
Sight test fees
If you paid for a sight test but think you may qualify for an NHS-funded sight test, or you’re about to have a test and you’re not sure if you qualify, ask the optometrist for a receipt that shows you paid for the test and the date of payment.
You’ll need to download, print and return an HC5(O) refund form along with your original receipt. The form tells you where to send it.
Download an HC5(O) refund claim form for optical costs from the NHS Business Services Authority
Glasses or contact lenses
If you have already used a voucher towards the cost of your glasses or lenses, you cannot get a refund for any difference between the voucher value and the actual cost of your glasses or lenses, unless it was a complex lens voucher.
If you paid for glasses or contact lenses and think you may have qualified for a voucher, you can claim a refund.
You’ll need to download, print and return an HC5(O) refund form along with your original receipt (including the amount you paid and the date of payment) and your optical prescription. The form tells you where to send it.
Download an HC5(O) refund claim form for optical costs from the NHS Business Services Authority
The maximum refund you can get will be the voucher value that 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’ll only be considered for a refund if you’re entitled to a voucher.
If you have a question about health costs
If you have questions about help with health costs, join the Help with Health Costs team on Facebook, where the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) will respond to your queries Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Or you can call the Help with Health Costs helpline on 0300 330 1343.
You must check that you’re entitled to help with health costs before signing any declaration stating that you are. You may have to pay a fine if you make a false claim. You would have to pay the cost of the sight test and the value of the voucher charge, plus a penalty charge of up to £100.
For more information, see Paying NHS charges.
Useful numbers
- Help with Health Costs helpline – 0300 330 1343
- Queries about medical exemption certificates – 0300 330 1341
- Queries about tax credit certificates – 0300 330 1347
- To order a paper copy of an NHS claims form – 0300 123 0849
