Are aged 60 or over.
Are aged 40 or over and with a parent, sister, brother with Glaucoma.
Are registered severely sight-impaired/blind or sight-impaired/partially sighted.
Suffering from Diabetes.
Suffering from Glaucoma.
Considered to be at risk from Glaucoma as advised by an ophthalmologist.

You can get a free NHS sight test and an optical voucher for glasses:

If you are aged under 16.
Aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education.
Receiving income support or your partner (including civil partner)
Receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependent of someone receiving Income-based, Jobseeker’s Allowance (not contribution based)
If your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependent of someone receiving Pension Credit/Guarantee Credit
If your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependent of someone receiving Income based Employment and Support Allowance.
If your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependent of someone receiving: Universal Credit and meet the criteria.
Require complex lenses
A prisoner on leave from prison

If you're entitled to or named on:

A valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate – if you don't have a certificate, you can show your award notice; you qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both) and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less.
Named on a valid HC2 certificate. People named on a valid HC3 certificate may also get some help.

NHS voucher values

The value of an NHS optical voucher can range from £39.10 to £215.50, depending on the strength and type of the lenses you may require and If clinically you require tints or prisms in your glasses, the value of the voucher will be increased to reflect this.

Proof of eligibility: You will be asked to show proof of your entitlement to a member of staff.

If you receive an NHS optical voucher, you are free to take it to any supplier of your choice, providing they accept NHS optical vouchers. If your glasses or contact lenses cost more than your voucher value, you will have to pay the difference.

The voucher values are:

Voucher A: £39.10

Glasses with single vision lenses:

with a spherical power of no more than 6 diopters and a cylindrical power of no more than 2 diopters

Voucher B: £59.30

Glasses with single vision lenses:

with a spherical power, more than 6 diopters but no more than 10 diopters, and a cylindrical power of no more than 6 diopters
with a spherical power, less than 10 diopters and a cylindrical power more than 2 diopters but no more than 6 diopters

Voucher C: £86.90

Glasses with single vision lenses:

with a spherical power of 10 or more diopters but no more than 14 diopters, and a cylindrical power of no more than 6 diopters

Voucher D: £196.00

Glasses with single vision lenses:

with a spherical power of more than 14 diopters with any cylindrical power
with a cylindrical power of more than 6 diopters with any spherical power

Voucher E: £67.50

Glasses with bifocal lenses (lenses with two distinct optical powers):

with a spherical power of no more than 6 diopters, and a cylindrical power of no more than 2 diopters

Voucher F: £85.60

Glasses with bifocal lenses:

with a spherical power of more than 6 diopters but no more than 10 diopters, and a cylindrical power of no more than 6 diopters
with a spherical power of less than 10 diopters, and a cylindrical power of more than 2 diopters but no more than 6 diopters

Voucher G: £111.20

Glasses with bifocal lenses:

with a spherical power of 10 or more diopters but no more than 14 diopters, and a cylindrical power of no more than 6 diopters

Voucher H: £215.50

Glasses with prism-controlled bifocal lenses of any power or with bifocal lenses:

with a spherical power of more than 14 diopters with any cylindrical power
with a cylindrical power of more than 6 diopters with any spherical power

Voucher I (HES): £200.80

This category covers glasses prescribed by NHS trusts (hospitals) and that do not fall under any of the above categories (A-H).

Voucher J: £57.00

A voucher for contact lenses following a prescription issued by an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust.

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