Boots eye test cost UK 2026

A private Boots Opticians Essential Eye Test costs from £29.95. The Advanced test with an OCT scan is from £54.95, and the Ultimate test with an optomap ultra-wide scan is £79.95. If you qualify for an NHS-funded eye test the core test is free.

GOC-regulated opticiansUK · Boots Opticians

How much is a Boots eye test in 2026?

A private Boots Essential Eye Test costs from £29.95 and includes a digital retinal photograph. The Advanced Eye Test adds a hospital-grade OCT scan from £54.95, and the Ultimate Eye Test adds an optomap ultra-wide retinal scan for £79.95. The core test is free if you qualify for an NHS-funded eye test — over 60, under 16 (or under 19 in full-time education), on certain benefits, or with diabetes or glaucoma. You are always entitled to a copy of your prescription to use at any other optician.

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Important context

Healthcare prices can change without notice and may exclude consultation fees, medication, diagnostics, anaesthetic, facility fees, follow-up care or add-ons. TreatCompare summarises published or compiled pricing for comparison and planning only. Always verify the current total directly before paying.

Source type: Provider-published prices and public healthcare guidance
Primary source: Boots Opticians published price pages and NHS eye-test eligibility guidance
Reporting period: June 2026
Last updated: June 2026
Figure type: Provider-published
Use: Research and comparison only

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Boots eye test price list

Service	Price	What it covers
Essential Eye Test (private)	from £29.95	Full sight test with refraction, a written prescription and a digital retinal photograph.
NHS-funded eye test	Free	For eligible groups (see below). Boots bills the NHS directly — you pay nothing for the core test.
Advanced Eye Test (with OCT)	from £54.95	Essential test plus a hospital-grade OCT retinal scan (the OCT adds from £25).
Ultimate Eye Test (with optomap + OCT)	£79.95	Adds an optomap ultra-wide retinal scan on top of the OCT — about £50 more than the Essential test.
OCT scan (standalone add-on)	from £25	A scan of the layers beneath the retina, added to an eye test.
Contact lens check	£50	Aftercare check for existing contact-lens wearers.

Prices are Boots Opticians published figures, verified June 2026. Individual stores can vary — confirm the fee with your local store before booking.

When a Boots eye test is free on the NHS

The core eye test is free (and Boots bills the NHS directly) if you are:

aged 60 or over, or under 16 (or under 19 and in full-time education)
on Income Support, Universal Credit (within the threshold), Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or other qualifying benefits
diabetic or have glaucoma, or are 40+ with a close relative who has glaucoma
registered partially sighted or blind, or have a valid HC2/HC3 certificate

In Scotland, NHS eye tests are free for all residents. An OCT or optomap scan is charged on top even when the core test is NHS-funded. If you do not qualify, the private Essential test is from £29.95.

Boots vs Specsavers vs Vision Express

	Boots	Specsavers	Vision Express
Private standard eye test	£29.95	£25	£30
NHS-funded eye test	Free (if eligible)	Free (if eligible)	Free (if eligible)
OCT scan	+£25 (Advanced test)	+£10 add-on	Often included in £30
Ultra-wide retinal scan	optomap (Ultimate £79.95)	Not offered	Not offered
UK locations	550+	1,000+	400+

Compare the dedicated Specsavers eye test cost and Vision Express eye test cost pages, or all UK optician eye-test prices.

Essential, Advanced or Ultimate — which Boots test

Essential (from £29.95) — the standard sight test with refraction, a written prescription and a digital retinal photograph. Right for most routine checks.
Advanced (from £54.95) — adds an OCT scan that photographs beneath the retina, useful if you have a family history of glaucoma or want earlier detection.
Ultimate (£79.95) — adds an optomap ultra-wide image on top of the OCT, capturing a wider view of the retina in one scan.

A contact-lens check (£50) for existing wearers is charged separately from the eye test.

Frequently asked questions

How much is an eye test at Boots Opticians?

A private Essential Eye Test at Boots Opticians costs from £29.95 and includes a digital retinal photograph. The Advanced Eye Test, which adds a hospital-grade OCT scan, costs from £54.95, and the Ultimate Eye Test, which adds an optomap ultra-wide scan on top of the OCT, is £79.95. If you qualify for an NHS-funded eye test the core test is free — Boots bills the NHS directly.

How much does an OCT scan cost at Boots?

At Boots Opticians the OCT retinal scan is part of the Advanced Eye Test and adds from £25 on top of the £29.95 Essential test, so the Advanced test is from £54.95. A standalone OCT scan also starts at £25. The OCT photographs the layers beneath the retina and can help detect glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease earlier than a standard test.

What is the Boots Ultimate Eye Test with optomap?

The Boots Ultimate Eye Test costs £79.95 and combines the standard sight test with both an OCT scan and an optomap ultra-wide-field retinal image, which captures a much wider view of the retina in a single scan. It is about £50 more than the £29.95 Essential test.

Is a Boots eye test free?

The core eye test is free if you qualify for an NHS-funded eye test — you are over 60, under 16, under 19 in full-time education, on certain benefits, or have diabetes or glaucoma (or are advised you are at risk). In Scotland NHS eye tests are free for all residents. Otherwise the private Essential Eye Test costs from £29.95, and OCT or optomap scans are charged on top.

Is Boots more expensive than Specsavers for an eye test?

On headline price, a private Boots Essential Eye Test (from £29.95) is higher than a Specsavers eye test (£25) and similar to Vision Express (£30). Boots also charges from £25 for OCT (versus £10 at Specsavers), but Boots is one of the few high-street chains to offer an optomap ultra-wide scan, in its £79.95 Ultimate test. Confirm the current fee with your local store before booking.

Do I get a prescription I can use elsewhere?

Yes. After any eye test you are legally entitled to a copy of your prescription, which you can take to any other optician to buy glasses or contact lenses. You do not have to buy from the optician who tested you.

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Sources & further reading

Boots Opticians — Eye tests — Published Essential, Advanced and Ultimate eye-test pricing.
Boots Opticians — Advanced eye test with OCT — OCT scan inclusion and pricing.
NHS — Free NHS eye tests — NHS-funded eye-test eligibility groups.

How we check Boots eye test prices

Prices are taken from Boots Opticians' published price pages and verified June 2026. Individual stores can vary — confirm the fee with your local store. Comparison figures for Specsavers and Vision Express are from each provider's public pricing. We do not accept payment for inclusion.