How much does a home eye test cost? UK prices explained
Eye Care
Price is usually the second question families ask about home eye tests, right after "do you really come to us?". The honest answer has two halves: many patients pay nothing at all, because the NHS funds the visit, and for everyone else a private home eye test does not have to cost more than a trip to the high street. Here is exactly how the pricing works.
The short version
A home eye test costs £0 if you qualify for the NHS-funded route, which needs two things to be true: you are entitled to a free NHS sight test, and you cannot leave home unaccompanied. If you do not qualify, HomeSight's private home eye test is £30, and we check your NHS eligibility first so you never pay privately when the NHS would cover it. Glasses are priced separately, with NHS optical vouchers reducing the cost for many patients.
The two prices that matter
Both routes deliver the same appointment. You can read what actually happens during a home eye test step by step, from the doorbell to the fitting of your new glasses.
Who qualifies for the £0 NHS route
The NHS pays when two things are both true. First, you are entitled to a free NHS sight test, which covers you if any of these apply:
Aged 60 or over Diagnosed diabetes Diagnosed glaucoma Aged 40+ with a close relative with glaucoma Registered sight impaired Certain benefits, e.g. Pension Credit Guarantee
Second, you are unable to leave home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability. The detail, including the situations families most often ask about, is in our guide to who qualifies for a free NHS home eye test. If you are not sure, do not guess: we confirm eligibility on the phone in a couple of minutes.
Why private prices vary so much between providers
Ring three home-visit opticians and you may hear three very different numbers. The usual reasons:
Whoever you choose, get the total as one clear number before you book. Our guide to which opticians do home visits includes six questions worth asking any provider. For comparison, HomeSight's private test is £30 with your NHS eligibility checked first, and anything that could affect the total is agreed before the visit is booked.
Find out what your test would cost
One two-minute call confirms whether the NHS funds your visit. No referral needed, no obligation.
Call 0800 080 6095What glasses add, and how NHS vouchers work
If the test shows you need new glasses, the cost depends on your prescription and the frames you choose, exactly as it would on the high street. Two things keep it manageable. First, many patients who qualify for NHS funding also receive an NHS optical voucher, whose value depends on your prescription and circumstances; the voucher is put towards your glasses, and any cost above it is explained before you order. Second, there is no pressure: frames are chosen at home with our dispenser, your glasses are delivered and fitted at home, and if your current glasses still suit your prescription, we will say so.
Home eye test costs: quick answers
What does the £30 private home eye test include?
The same clinical content as a high-street appointment: a full sight test and an eye health check carried out at home by a GOC-registered optometrist, with your prescription explained in plain English. The prescription you receive can be used anywhere.
Do I pay anything if the NHS funds my test?
Not for the test itself: the NHS-funded home eye test is £0 for eligible patients. Glasses are priced separately, and many eligible patients also receive an NHS optical voucher that reduces or covers the cost.
Are there call-out or travel charges?
The prices we quote are the prices we charge. Anything that could affect the total, such as a visit well outside our usual areas, is agreed with you before the appointment is booked, never afterwards.
How much do glasses cost after a home eye test?
It depends on your prescription and the frames you choose. If you qualify for an NHS optical voucher, its value is put towards the cost, and anything above the voucher is explained before you order. Frames are chosen at home, and your glasses are delivered and fitted at home too.
Can eye and hearing checks be done in the same visit?
Yes. Many patients combine a home eye test with a £30 home hearing check, which is refunded if you go ahead with hearing aids from us. One visit, both senses looked after.
Is a home eye test more expensive than going to the high street?
Not with HomeSight. The test is £0 when the NHS funds it and £30 privately, which is in line with a typical high-street sight test. The difference is that the practice comes to you.
Clear prices, no surprises
£0 with NHS funding, £30 privately, and every cost explained before you commit.
Book a home eye test