When booking your eye test, everyone is under either NHS or Private.
But which one?
NHS
You are entitled to a free NHS sight test if:
- You are under 16,
- Are 16, 17 or 18 and in full time eduction – this includes being taught full time at school, college, university or at home,
- Are over 60,
- Are register 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 are at risk of glaucoma,
- Are a prisoner on leave from prison,
- Are eligible for 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 your under the age of 20 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 need 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 disability element or both, and have an income for tax credit purpose 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.
If you still unsure on whether you are NHS or private please don’t hesitate to give us a call and we can help you.
You can also take a look at the NHS website which will give you more information in more depth – select here