How much does a home eye test cost in the UK?

NHS-funded patients: £0

If you meet the NHS criteria for a domiciliary (home) sight test, the test is completely free. There is no excess, no booking fee and no travel charge. The NHS pays the optometrist a fixed fee directly.

This is true whether the visit takes place in your own home, a care home, sheltered housing or a hospice. The eligibility criteria are explained in full on our eligibility page.

Private home eye tests

If you don't qualify for NHS funding — for example, you can travel to a high street optician but simply prefer the convenience of a home visit — a private domiciliary sight test in the UK typically costs between £60 and £100, depending on the provider and your location.

What about glasses?

Glasses are always priced separately from the sight test, whether you're seen at home or on the high street. If you're eligible for an NHS optical voucher (HC2, HC3, certain benefits, or complex prescriptions), the voucher will be applied at the point of order.

We'll always show you what the voucher covers and what — if anything — you'd need to pay before you commit to any frames.

Hidden charges to watch out for

Reputable domiciliary providers do not add booking fees, mileage charges or "home visit surcharges" to NHS-funded patients — these would breach the NHS contract. If a provider asks you to pay anything for an NHS-eligible sight test, that's a red flag.

Source: NHS General Ophthalmic Services fees (current schedule); NHS optical voucher values (HC2/HC3).