Eye tests and hearing care, brought to your front door in East London
Getting to the optician shouldn't be the hardest part of looking after your eyes. For a lot of people in East London, it is. The bus is a struggle. The walk from the car park feels longer every year. A wheelchair and a busy high street don't mix well. So the eye test gets put off, then forgotten, and a pair of glasses that stopped doing the job two years ago carries on being worn.
A home eye test fixes that. We bring the full sight test, and hearing care too, into your home. You don't travel anywhere. We come to you, anywhere across East London, and for most people who can't easily reach a high-street optician the test itself is free on the NHS.
What is a home eye test?
A home eye test, sometimes called a domiciliary sight test, is a complete eye examination carried out where you live. It's the same test you'd get in a practice. We bring the equipment with us, set it up in your living room or bedroom, and work around you. If you're more comfortable in your armchair, we test you in your armchair. There's no queue behind you, and no clock-watching.
We check how well you see, whether your current glasses are still right, and we look at the health of your eyes. That last part matters more than most people realise. An eye test can pick up early signs of glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and even conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure before you'd notice anything yourself. For someone who rarely sees a doctor, it's often the one health check they get all year.
Free NHS home eye tests: are you eligible?
The NHS pays for home eye tests for people who can't leave home on their own because of a physical or mental illness or disability. In plain terms: if getting to a high-street optician without help isn't realistic for you, you very likely qualify for a free NHS-funded eye test at home.
If you're aged 60 or over, you're entitled to a free NHS eye test anyway, and that entitlement comes to your door. You may also qualify if you have diabetes or glaucoma, or if you're on certain benefits.
You don't need to work out the rules on your own. When you call, we'll ask a few straightforward questions and tell you there and then whether the NHS covers your visit. If it does, there's nothing to pay for the test itself. If you're not eligible, we offer a private home eye test at a clear, fixed price, and we tell you the cost before you commit to anything.
What happens during a home visit
The visit usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour. We keep it calm and unhurried, which makes a real difference for anyone living with dementia, anxiety, or simply a day that tires them out. We can adapt the test for complex needs, including for people who have had a stroke or who find it hard to communicate.
If you need new glasses, we bring a range of frames to try on at home and order the right lenses for you. When they're ready, we deliver them and make sure they fit properly. You never make a second trip, because there was no trip to begin with.
Home hearing tests and ear wax removal at home
Hearing tends to fade so slowly that people don't notice until they're missing half of every conversation. The television creeps louder. Phone calls become hard work. Family start repeating themselves, and the person in the middle of it often pulls back a little, because joining in has become exhausting.
We test hearing at home the same way we test eyes. We check what you can and can't hear, look at what's going on in the ear, and talk you through what we find. Sometimes the answer is a build-up of wax, and we can remove it there and then so your hearing comes back the same day. Other times a hearing aid is the right step, and we fit it, set it up for your hearing, and show you how to use it without any jargon.
Better hearing isn't a small thing. It's being part of the conversation at the dinner table again, and answering the phone without dread.
Home eye tests for care homes and sheltered housing
This isn't only for people living alone at home. We visit residential and nursing homes, sheltered housing schemes, and family homes where an elderly relative is being looked after. If you manage a care home and your residents are due their eye and hearing checks, we can arrange a regular visiting schedule and handle it all in one trip.
Areas we cover in East London
We're based in and around East London, and that's where we work. Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest, Redbridge and the surrounding areas are all on our patch. Because we're local, we can usually fit you in quickly, and we're not racing across the city to reach you. We know the estates with no lift and the streets where parking is a nightmare, and that local knowledge keeps your appointment running smoothly.
For families and carers
If you're reading this on behalf of someone else, you're doing the right thing by sorting it. The people who most need a home visit are often the least likely to arrange one. They don't want to be a bother. They tell you their eyes are fine. Meanwhile they've stopped reading the paper and they're squinting at the telly.
You can book on their behalf. You can be there for the appointment, or not, whatever works. We're used to dealing with sons, daughters, and carers, and we'll keep you in the loop on what we find. If something needs a GP's attention, we'll tell you clearly so you can act on it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a home eye test free on the NHS? Yes, for most people who need one. If you can't get to a high-street optician unaccompanied because of illness or disability, or you're aged 60 or over, your home eye test is funded by the NHS and there's nothing to pay for the test.
Who qualifies for a home eye test? Anyone who can't leave home on their own due to a physical or mental health condition, plus everyone aged 60 and over. People with diabetes or glaucoma, and those on certain benefits, may also qualify. Call us and we'll confirm your eligibility in a couple of minutes.
How long does a home eye test take? Around 45 minutes to an hour. We don't rush, so the appointment is relaxed and you have time to ask questions.
Can you get a hearing test at home? Yes. We carry out full hearing tests at home, remove ear wax where needed, and fit and set up hearing aids, all in the same visit if you'd like.
How do I book a home eye test in East London? Call us for a quick chat. We'll check whether an NHS-funded visit applies and book a time that suits you.
Book your home visit today
The easiest way to start is a quick phone call. No forms, no waiting room, no commitment. Tell us a bit about the situation, and we'll check whether an NHS-funded visit applies and find a time that suits you or your relative.
Call us on [PHONE NUMBER] or [request a callback / email ADDRESS]. We'll do the rest, and we'll come to you.
[Business name] provides home eye tests and home hearing care across East London, including Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest and Redbridge. For most people who can't easily reach a high-street optician, the eye test itself is free through the NHS.