Certain groups can claim help with the cost of NHS sight tests and glasses or contact lenses.
The amount of help you can get towards the cost of your glasses or contact lenses is known as a voucher value, which depends on the strength of your prescribed lenses.
You can choose to have either:
- one voucher towards a pair of bifocal glasses
- one voucher towards the cost of contact lenses
- 2 single vision vouchers, one for a pair of reading glasses and one for distance
If you have an HC3 certificate, you'll pay the contribution figure once if you have 2 single vision vouchers.
If your glasses or contact lenses cost more than your voucher value, you'll have to pay the difference.
If you’re paying in instalments you can claim a refund after you've paid the value of your voucher.
Your optician will tell you which voucher value applies to you.