Eye prescription?

[Malteser56]

Does my NHS medical exemption certificate also cover glasses?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

No.

Only medicines. Charges for other things are subject to other arrangements for those who have difficulty with affording them. (Not saying those arrangments are adequate.)

Do remember that you can get the paper prescription from an opticians and then purchase the actual glasses anywhere you like. There are less expensive sources in the UK and abroad. Definitely easier if you have already got glasses so you know your frame size and so on.

[Malteser56]

Thank you

[TSH110]

You would need to fulfil one of these criteria:

nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-w...

[Malteser56 in reply to TSH110]

Thank you for your info.

[Hidden]

I couldn't get help with glasses until my earnings were below the official lower limit (£15,000 a year at the time, it might have increased) and my savings likewise. Apparently there are two kinds of pension credits, (or has that changed too?) and you have to be on guaranteed credit to qualify.

Even then, they don't pay the whole amount - Last time I was allowed £60 off.

You can get help with dental work too, though again have to be on guaranteed pension to qualify.

Of course, if you are younger different rules apply

[Hidden]

I do feel that when you are buying glasses that it is better to buy from an opticians as you will be fitted by someone who knows what they are doing. I personally would never buy online too much room for error taking your own PD's is not as easy as it looks. Asda do glasses complete for £45 varifocals if needed thins lenses if needed with all the coatings and other opticians offer a similar deal so shop around.

[SilverAvocado]

No, it doesn't, but if you're on a low income you can get an NHS coupon towards glasses. Its quite a simple benefit to get hold of, similar to Housing benefit, and I think even easier. If I recall correctly you write in your income, and for this one they trust you, you don't have to produce bank statements or other proof. You still have to get hold of the form, and it applies to dentist and a few other things, too, including transport to hospital, although I could only get them to reimburse bus fare even when I could hardly walk.

I've only ever taken my coupon to Specsavers, and if I'm remembering rightly they give a better deal and match some of the value of the coupon. I think this makes some of the cheaper frames completely free, or you can top it up with your own money to get the more expensive ones.

[JOLLYDOLLY]

No it doesn't, unless you are on certain benefits and only then, you are limited to which glasses you can have. I think you have to pay something towards the cost of the glasses as well.

You can get a free eye test IF you or a member of your immediate family, ie parents or siblings have or had glaucoma and if you are on benefits. You may have to produce proof as well, depends on the current criteria?

As helvella has mentioned, you can get your glasses from anywhere with the prescription you are given by the optician.

[Angel_of_the_North]

No, but your workplace should pay for your eye test if you use a computer - talk to HR