Susan Collier Opticians - NHS Entitlement

Susan Collier Ltd - Opticians

NHS entitlement

You are entitled to a free sight test, paid for by the NHS,
if you are normally resident in the UK,
due for an eye examination and:

You are under 16 years of age

You are 16, 17 or 18 years of age and in FULL time education

You are aged 60 or over

You have been diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma

You are 40 or over, and your mother, father, brother, sister,
son or daughter has been diagnosed with glaucoma

An ophthalmologist has advised you that your are at risk of glaucoma

You are registered blind or partially sighted

You have been certified sight impaired or severely sight impaired

You are prescribed complex lenses

You are a war pensioner and you need the sight test because of
a disability for which you get a war pension

If you or your partner receive:

Income support

Income-based jobseeker’s allowance

Income-related employment and support allowance

Pension credit guarantee credit

You are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate

How often can I have an NHS Sight Test?

The NHS only pays for sight tests that are considered clinically necessary

Your optometrist will recommend how often you should have
your eyes tested. This will normally be every two years

In some circumstances, your optometrist may recommend
more frequent NHS sight tests. For example, if you are:

Diabetic

40 or over and have a family history of glaucoma

70 or over

Paying for a sight test

You will have to pay for a sight test, for example:

If you want to have a sight test more often than
your optometrist considers clinically necessary

If you are not entitled to a free NHS sight test

If you think that your sight has changed before
your next test is due or you are having trouble
with your eyes, you can request an earlier test

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What if I pay for a sight test?

After you pay for a sight test, you are not eligible for a free NHS
sight test until a suitable period has passed
This is usually two years

If you are eligible for help with NHS costs under the NHS low income scheme,
you can claim some or all of the cost of the sight test for you,
your partner and your children

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The NHS demands that we see evidence of eligibility although we only
require to see evidence of age on the first occasion

The time between examinations varies according to age and medical considerations
This may be reduced on clinical grounds by the optometrist but if you are not
due for a check then you may have to pay for a private examination

Retinal photography at the practice incurs an additional fee of £15

At all eye examinations we request that you bring along any spectacles that you use
and details of medication together with evidence of age
and/or eligibility where appropriate