Guide · eye test prices
How much is an eye test? Every price, honestly
Anywhere between nothing and £195, depending on what you’d like looked at. Here’s what each level includes, so you can choose the right one.
The straight answer
Free if you qualify for an NHS sight test — about half of adults do, and all children. £55 for our forty-five-minute private test. £95 for the Gold examination with the 3D OCT scan. £195 for the hour-long Platinum examination with everything.
What the money buys
| NHS, free | Private, £55 | Gold, £95 | Platinum, £195 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time with the optometrist | 30 min | 45 min | 45 min | 60 min |
| Prescription | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eye health | Full check + retinal photo | Twelve checks + retinal photo | Twelve checks + photo + 3D OCT | Gold + full visual fields + additional OCT scans |
| OCT scan | £35 add-on | — | Included | Included |
If your eyes are healthy and your prescription is stable, the NHS or private test is plenty. If you’re over forty, have a family history, or simply want the full picture, the OCT scan on Gold is where the early finding happens.
The OCT question
The 3D OCT scan photographs the layers behind the retina in cross-section. It shows glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic change years before you’d notice anything or a photograph would show it. It’s the single biggest difference between a £55 test and a £95 one, and for anyone over forty it’s the one we’d pay for ourselves. On an NHS test it’s a £25 add-on.
When you don’t need to pay
If you’re under 16, over 60, diabetic, have glaucoma in the family, or on certain benefits, the test is free. The full list → You can still add the OCT for £25.
The short version
- Free on the NHS for about half of adults and all children
- £55 buys forty-five minutes and twelve checks; £95 adds the 3D OCT scan
- Over forty, or family history: the OCT is the part worth having
- Every price is on the price list