Paying for eye test in the UK
A sight test at an optician.
Each row is one way of paying: the NHS, the NHS paying an independent provider, private medical insurance, and paying the provider yourself. Every figure links to the page it was read from, with the date. NHS waits are for England; charges for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are shown where they have been read. Where nothing is published, the table says so.
How each route pays for eye test
| Route | What it covers | Wait | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHS sight test: EnglandFor people who qualify. Who qualifies is not tracked here | Not tracked | Not tracked | £23.53NHS sight test fee as listed by NHSBSA; at home £64.33 | |
| NHS eye examination: Scotland | NHS eye examinations are free in Scotland for everyone who usually lives in the UK, and for refugees and asylum seekers. | Not tracked | No chargeas stated by NHS inform |
|
| Private medical insuranceExplained as a mechanism. No insurer or policy is named or compared | Not trackedSet per policy. This site does not read policies | Not trackedNo waiting time for insured patients has been read | Not publishedWhat an insurer pays, and any excess or shortfall, is set per policy | None for this row |
| Self-pay: Bayfields Opticians | Advanced Eye Test | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £64includes an OCT scan |
|
| Self-pay: Boots Opticians | Essential Eye Test | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £29.95no OCT scan; with an OCT scan (Advanced Eye Test): £54.95 |
|
| Self-pay: Leightons | Leightons private eye test | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £39no OCT scan; with an OCT scan (Leightons enhanced eye test): £69 |
|
| Self-pay: Optical Express | Essential Eye Test | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £25no OCT scan; with an OCT scan (Advanced Eye Test): £50 |
|
| Self-pay: Specsavers | Standard eye test | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £25no OCT scan; with an OCT scan (Standard eye test plus OCT retinal scan): £35; checked by hand: the fee page blocks automated reads |
|
| Self-pay: Vision Express | Advanced Eye Test | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £30includes an OCT scan |
|
More on eye test
Sources
- NHS Business Services Authority: KA-03997: What are the current costs of NHS treatment in England?. Read 26 October 2026.
- NHS inform (Scottish Government): NHS community eyecare. Read 26 October 2026.
- Bayfields Opticians eye test fees. Read 26 October 2026.
- Boots Opticians eye test fees. Read 26 October 2026.
- Leightons eye test fees. Read 26 October 2026.
- Optical Express eye test fees. Read 26 October 2026.
- Specsavers eye test fees. Read 14 October 2026.
- Vision Express eye test fees. Read 26 October 2026.
This page presents published data. It does not recommend a route, a provider or an insurer.