Vision Express eye test cost UK 2026
Vision Express publishes £30 for its private Advanced Eye Test, which includes an OCT scan. If you qualify for an NHS sight test it is free, and upgrading it to the Advanced checks costs from £6.
How much is a Vision Express eye test in 2026?
Vision Express eye test fees
| Service | Fee | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Eye Test | £30 | 26 October 2026 |
| Advanced Eye Test — NHS upgrade (England, Wales, NI)On top of a free NHS sight test | £6 | 26 October 2026 |
| Advanced Eye Test — NHS upgrade (Scotland)On top of a free NHS sight test | £10 | 26 October 2026 |
| NHS sight test | No charge | If you qualify (see below) |
When a Vision Express eye test is free: the NHS route
England: who gets a free NHS sight test
nhs.uk says you can get a free NHS eye test if you:
- are under 16
- are 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education
- 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
- are entitled to or named on a valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)
You are also entitled if you or your partner receive, or you are under 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit and meet the criteria
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.
Source: nhs.uk: Free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers, read 26 October 2026 (page last reviewed 19 July 2023).
What the NHS sight test is listed at
NHSBSA lists the NHS sight test at £23.53, or £64.33 for a sight test conducted at home. (NHS Business Services Authority: KA-03997: What are the current costs of NHS treatment in England?, read 26 October 2026) If you qualify, you pay nothing for it. If you do not, you pay the optician's own private fee, which is set by each chain.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- NHS eye examinations are free in Scotland for everyone who usually lives in the UK, and for refugees and asylum seekers. (NHS inform (Scottish Government): NHS community eyecare, read 26 October 2026)
- Wales and Northern Ireland: sight-test eligibility and voucher values not tracked.
Vision Express and Specsavers, side by side
| Vision Express | Specsavers | |
|---|---|---|
| Private test, no scan | Not published as a separate tier | £25 |
| Private test with OCT scan | £30 | up to £35 (test plus OCT add-on of up to £10) |
| NHS sight test | No charge if you qualify | No charge if you qualify |
| NHS test plus extra checks | from £6 | Not published as an upgrade fee |
Specsavers is checked by hand (its fee page refuses automated reads). See the Specsavers vs Vision Express comparison or all UK optician eye-test fees.
What the Advanced Eye Test includes
- Sight test and eye health check, with a written prescription you can use at any optician.
- OCT 3D scan.
- UV protection and dry eye assessments.
From Vision Express's terms, read 14 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an eye test at Vision Express?
Is a Vision Express eye test free?
Is Vision Express or Specsavers lower-cost for an eye test?
Does Vision Express do home eye tests?
Do I get a prescription I can use elsewhere?
Book or compare
Book with Vision Express, or see every UK chain's published eye-test fee first.
Sources
- Vision Express published eye-test fees. Read 26 October 2026.
- Specsavers published eye-test fees (checked by hand). Read 14 October 2026.
- nhs.uk: Free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers. Read 26 October 2026. Who qualifies for a free NHS sight test (England).