Should you be choosing to see an NHS optician or a private optician? When should your child be going for an eye test? Can opticians do home visits? Here’s all you need to know.

4 minute read

There are opticians on every high street in the UK, but unless we need glasses, or have a problem with our eyes, we probably walk straight past them. So what do opticians do? Do I need to pay for an eye test in the UK, and how often should I see an optician to make sure my eyes stay healthy?

What is an optician?

There are two main types of opticians, a dispensing optician and an ophthalmic optician (optometrist).  

An optometrist is qualified to perform eye examinations and sight tests and provide primary eye care services. They are trained to detect eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration, pick up eye injuries and abnormalities and check refractive conditions like myopia (short-sightedness) and hyperopia (long-sightedness). Optometrists can prescribe glasses and contact lenses and advise you on managing your condition but cannot prescribe medication. They may refer you to your GP or a specialist eye doctor called an ophthalmologist.

Optometrists must complete a three-year degree course (four years in Scotland) followed by a year’s salaried pre-registration training with a practice under the guidance of a GOC-registered optometrist. All optometrists practising in the UK must be registered with the General Optical Council (GOC), the profession’s regulatory body.

Dispensing opticians are trained to give advice on the most suitable glasses or contact lenses based on the prescription provided by the optometrist. They can also provide advice on general eye care. Dispensing opticians are not qualified to perform eye exams or vision tests. A dispensing optics course is three years in total.

Are opticians covered by the NHS?

Like many other primary care services, such as GPs, dentists and pharmacists, most opticians are private practices under contract to the NHS. This contract pays a standard amount of money for each sight test on behalf of the NHS.

How much does it cost to see an NHS optician?

The cost of a sight test varies but is normally between £20 and £30. Sight tests are free in Scotland to all UK residents, asylum seekers and some overseas visitors.

Each year the price of a sight test in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is set by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England after negotiations with the Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (ONFC), a committee made up of representatives from the Optical Confederation, the Local Optical Council Support Unit (LOCSU) and the British Medical Association (BMA).

In Scotland, Optometry Scotland negotiates this fee with the Scottish Government.

Who is eligible for free eye tests in the UK?

You are entitled to free eye tests in England, Wales and Northern Ireland if you:

• Are under 16 years of age, or under 19 and in full-time education

• Are 60 years of age or over

• Are registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired

• Have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma

• Are aged 40 and over and have a close family member with glaucoma

• Are at risk of developing glaucoma

• Are a prisoner on leave from prison

• Are eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher

• Receive income support or income-based job seeker’s allowance

• Receive pension credit, income-based employment and support allowance, or universal credit

• Are entitled to, or named on a valid NHS exemption certificate or a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs 

Are there private opticians in the UK?

In addition to NHS opticians, there are many private opticians in the UK.

Private opticians:

• Offer a more extensive examination than the standard visual acuity check performed by NHS opticians

• Usually have more advanced technology and diagnostic tools

• Offer longer appointments

• Are usually more expensive than NHS opticians

• May offer a wider range of lenses and frames

How much does it cost to see a private optician in the UK?

In the UK, the cost of a private eye test varies depending on the optician and the services offered but normally ranges from £20 to over £100.

How often should I visit an optician?

The NHS recommends getting your eyes tested every two years. Your optometrist will advise you if you need to have an eye test more often than this.

Should my child have an eye test?

Detecting eye problems early is important to ensure your child gets any necessary treatment quickly. This is the case for everything when it comes to children, from health concerns to dental issues.

In the UK, children’s eyes are routinely checked:

• Within 72 hours of birth

• Between six and eight weeks of age

• Around one year or between two and two and a half years of age

• Around four or five years of age

Once your child reaches school age, they should normally have an eye test every two years, unless your optometrist tells you differently. Free NHS sight tests are available at opticians for those under 16 or under 19 and in full-time education.

In Scotland, children between the ages of 3 years and 6 months and 5 years and 5 months have been offered free pre-school orthoptic vision screening (POVS) since 2012. This is the ideal age for the early detection of conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (squint), and refractive errors.

How can I make an appointment with an optician?

There are many high street opticians in the UK where you can make an appointment for an eye test. Some well-known opticians include Specsavers, Boots and Vision Express.

You can search for an NHS optician by town, city or postcode and make an appointment online or by visiting your local branch.

Are there long waiting times to see an optician?

Unlike other areas of primary care such as GPs and dentists, you can usually get an appointment for a sight test quickly (within a few days) in the UK. You do not need to be registered with an optician to book a sight test.

Do opticians do home visits?

The NHS provides free home visits to people who are eligible for free eye tests but are unable to leave their homes due to physical or mental illness or disability. This includes people in their own homes, care homes and daycare facilities.