We offer free NHS funded eye examinations
Scotland is the only country in the UK to provide free universal NHS funded eye examinations. These are available to anyone ordinarily resident in the UK and to eligible overseas visitors.
If you are looking to visit us for a second opinion, having already had an NHS sight test elsewhere, this will need to be paid for privately as the cost of a second opinion examination is not covered by the NHS.
We offer a few examinations and tests privately that are not covered by the NHS, such as an OCT scan and ReadEZ visual stress test.
Help with the cost of spectacles and contact lenses from the NHS
You will be entitled to help towards the cost of spectacles or contact lenses if you are:
- under 16
- under 19 and in full-time education
- aged 17 or 18, you may be able get help if you live in a household that gets Universal Credit
- needing complex lenses
- entitled to a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
- named on a valid HC2 certificate issued under the NHS Low Income Scheme
- getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit
- getting Universal Credit and your income is below certain limits.
If you’re entitled to help towards the cost of spectacles or contact lenses, you will get an NHS optical voucher. Your partner and children will also be entitled to a voucher if they are included in your benefit award.