NHS Optical Voucher

jaggyjim

OK, So I am seriously overdue for an eye test. I am really really short-sighted (like -18:eek:) so wear lenses all the time. I do really need to get a pair of glasses as well as a backu as the ones I have currently are probably from a prescription from about 6-8 yrs ago. The reason I don't go every yr and get new contacts/glasses? It costs me over £500 a time.

So I just did a bit of digging and found out that there is an NHS Optical voucher for "complex prescriptions" but I can't find the definition for that anywhere - does it just depend on that measurement or are other factors taken into account? Also is it means tested? Again, can't find the answer to that anywhere.

In the 15yrs since I came out f/t education and hence no longer entitled to NHS support, not 1 single optician (and I've been to a few, used to go regularly, just recently its been over 3yrs) has even mentioned that I may be entitled to this or that it even exists.

So if there's any opticians/DOs out there who can advise please help, as I have overdosed on Google trying to find out the above....

pmduk

From the booklet HC11 downloadable here

You get free NHS sight tests if you’re prescribed complex or powerful glasses with at least one lens which:
• has a power in any one meridian of
plus or minus 10 or more dioptres; or
• is a prism-controlled bifocal lens.
You also get a voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses.

jaggyjim

Thanks for that info pmd

sophlowe45

I get £80.60 voucher and £13.70 help towards mine with free eye test for complex lenses, im - 10

i guess you might be voucher d £182.00 but this is only for people not working who need a HC2 form (including students) or people on ESA where you dont need the HC2 form

you get a free eye test though, check out Specsavers for cheaper prices

Mine cost £400+ - the voucher and its the best pair of glasses and lenses ive ever had, found a really great optician, probably could have haggled 10 per cent off but didn't think of trying at the time as the Optician was the best Optician i'd ever seen!

tidus

If your prescription is over +/- 10.00, you can claim an NHS eye examination, and a "complex lens" NHS spectacle voucher, which is worth about £20.

bluedolphins

If you have a complex prescription which is classed as +/- 10 then you are entitled to an NHS voucher.

However the amount that you receive depends on the type of glasses that you go for. It they are single vision - for distance/intermediate or reading then you only get £13.70. If it's a bifocal or varifocal then you get £34.60. Not much i'm afraid.

If you have prisms then you get more.

If you receive any benefits such as:

Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Prension Credits, Tax Credtits (on a valid NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate) etc

you will get a higher value - with your prescription this would range from £182.00 - £200.10.

Hope this helps.

jaggyjim

bluedolphins wrote: »

If you have a complex prescription which is classed as +/- 10 then you are entitled to an NHS voucher.

However the amount that you receive depends on the type of glasses that you go for. It they are single vision - for distance/intermediate or reading then you only get £13.70. If it's a bifocal or varifocal then you get £34.60. Not much i'm afraid.

If you have prisms then you get more.

If you receive any benefits such as:

Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Prension Credits, Tax Credtits (on a valid NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate) etc

you will get a higher value - with your prescription this would range from £182.00 - £200.10.

Hope this helps.

Thats really useful - thanks for the info