Specsavers Eye Test Costs. Advice Please.

xsunnysuex

I hope this is in the correct place. I am on income support. Today my Dr requested I go the my optician and get the pressure in my eyes checked. He suspects I may have glaucoma. I phoned Specsavers and told them. They said they could not do just an eye pressure check, it would have to be a full eye test. I was also told because my routine eye test isn't due until Aug/Sept I would have to pay £19.50 for the test. Other people have told me I should not be charged if it's requested by my GP investigating glaucoma. Does anyone know if I am liable to pay please? Any help appreciated.

[Deleted User]

i`m not sure if you have to pay or not,if you do then try somewhere like asda as they are cheaper,sometimes some of the supermarkets that have opticians do free test.

Newly_retired

Do you have a relative who has /had glaucoma? You might be able to get it free then, though I think there is an age limit- over 40?

dmg24

You should be able to get the test done at your local eye hospital.

nedmundo

The NHS will fund the eye exam if you have attended at the request of a medical practitioner. There's even a code number specifically for that situation for them to put on the back of your blue GOS1 NHS form to justify this - Early Retest Reason Code 4.
One would expect them to know this really.

xsunnysuex

nedmundo wrote: »

The NHS will fund the eye exam if you have attended at the request of a medical practitioner. There's even a code number specifically for that situation for them to put on the back of your blue GOS1 NHS form to justify this - Early Retest Reason Code 4.
One would expect them to know this really.

Thank you so much. I am going to the opticions this morning. So will be armed with this infomation.

nedmundo

How did you get on?

LadyMorticia

I went to my local Specsavers recently as my eyesight seems to be getting worse. I asked them whether I would be charged because my routine examination wasn't due. They said that I wouldn't be charged because that rule had been scrapped. *shrug*

nedmundo

I don't think that's right either. If anything, due to shortages of funding, it is going to be tightened up on.

clb776

I thought you got free eye tests if you were on benefits?

I was told this the other day when I went in there?

LadyMorticia

nedmundo wrote: »

I don't think that's right either. If anything, due to shortages of funding, it is going to be tightened up on.

Exactly! I thought it was odd but they insisted.

clb776 wrote: »

I thought you got free eye tests if you were on benefits?

I was told this the other day when I went in there?

You do usually, but if you go for an eye test before your routine examination and you don't need a new prescription or nothing has changed, then you usually have to pay.