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.

 

Eligibility for Optical Voucher

This is a voucher to help towards the cost of the glasses. The voucher will either cover the cost of the glasses partially or in full depending on the glasses chosen.

You may be entitled to NHS support towards the cost of your glasses if you:

• Are eligible for an NHS complex lens voucher

• Receive Income Support

• Receive income-based jobseeker's allowance (not contribution-based)

• Receive pension credit guarantee credit

• Receive income-based employment and support allowance (not contribution)

• Are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate

• Are named on a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)