Half Blind

sassy_one

Very sorry to hear your condition OP, really am sadden to read your thread

GillM

Being able to get help with cost of eye tests or glasses is nothing to do with income. I never paid for an eye test until I had cataract surgery at 48 because my prescription was -15 in both eyes. It is to do with the complexity of the prescription but I don't know the exact criteria. I'm guessing however that you won't fit the criteria or your optician would already have told you, but do ask him/her next time you go. I also got help towards the cost of glasses, but last time I qualified the help was still only a measly £10! Good luck

alwaysonthego_2

GillM wrote: »

Being able to get help with cost of eye tests or glasses is nothing to do with income. I never paid for an eye test until I had cataract surgery at 48 because my prescription was -15 in both eyes. It is to do with the complexity of the prescription but I don't know the exact criteria. I'm guessing however that you won't fit the criteria or your optician would already have told you, but do ask him/her next time you go. I also got help towards the cost of glasses, but last time I qualified the help was still only a measly £10! Good luck

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_family/health/help_with_health_costs.htm#helpwiththecostofglasses



Help with the cost of glasses and contact lenses

You will be entitled to help towards the cost of prescription glasses or contact lenses if you:-

• are getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit. Your partner and children will also be entitled to a voucher. If you are getting Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit, you may be entitled to help, depending on your income
• are under 16
• are under 19 and in full-time education
• need complex lenses
• in England, are a prisoner on leave from prison
• in England and Wales, are aged 16 or 17 and are financially maintained by your local authority.

If you are entitled to help towards the cost of prescription glasses or contact lenses, you will get an NHS optical voucher.
In Wales, if you are under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education and suffering from a specific illness, you may be able to get a voucher towards the cost of an additional pair of glasses or contact lenses.
For more information about the value of optical vouchers, in England see NHS charges and optical voucher values, in Wales see NHS charges and optical voucher values, and in Scotland see A quick guide to help with health costs (HCS2).
If you are not in one of the categories listed above, you may still be able to get help towards the costs of prescription glasses or contact lenses on the grounds of low income – see under heading, Help with health costs if you are on a low income.
In England, a full list of people who can get help with the cost of glasses and contact lenses, see the Department of Health leaflet HC11 Help with health costs at: www.nhsba.nhs.uk.

Indie_Kid

GillM wrote: »

I'm guessing however that you won't fit the criteria or your optician would already have told you

I agree. If toy fit the criteria due to medical reasons, they do tell you when you have your tests done.

GillM

Sorry, I worded my response poorly - I didn't mean that you couldn't claim if your income was low, just that if you qualify on the grounds of a complex prescription you will get the help no matter what you earn - I was on £30k+ but still qualified.

Indie_Kid

If you're exempt from paying for sight tests for medical reasons, it's non-income assessed.