Which opticians do home visits? Your options in plain English
Eye Care
Type "opticians near me" and you will find plenty of shops. Finding one that will come to your living room is a different job, because most high-street branches do not offer home visits at all. This guide explains who actually does, who qualifies to have the NHS pay for it, and how to choose well.
The short version
Home eye tests are provided by three kinds of optician: national home-visit specialists, regional independents that only work in people's homes, and a small number of local practices that visit their own patients. If you cannot leave home unaccompanied and qualify for a free NHS sight test, the visit is NHS-funded with any of them. If not, a private home test is still inexpensive: at HomeSight it is £30.
Why your usual optician probably cannot come to you
Testing eyes at home is a specialism. It needs portable versions of the consulting-room equipment, clinicians who are comfortable working in living rooms and care homes, and, for NHS-funded visits, a specific NHS domiciliary contract that ordinary branches do not hold.
That is why ringing the shop where you bought your last glasses often ends with a polite no. It is not reluctance; they are usually not set up or contracted to do it. The good news is that a whole part of the profession is set up for exactly this.
Who actually does home visits: your three options
Whichever route you choose, the test itself should be the same: a full sight test and eye health check carried out by a GOC-registered optometrist. You can read exactly what happens during a home eye test step by step.
Do you qualify for a free NHS home eye test?
The NHS pays for the home visit when two things are both true. First, you are entitled to a free NHS sight test. Second, you are unable to leave home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability. The first part 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
Eligibility sounds more complicated than it is in practice: a good provider checks it for you in one phone call. The detail, including the situations families most often ask about, is in our guide to free NHS home eye tests and who qualifies.
Not sure whether you qualify?
Our coordinators check NHS eligibility in a two-minute call. No referral needed, no obligation.
Call 0800 080 6095What it costs if the NHS does not fund it
Private home eye test prices vary widely between providers, and some add call-out charges, so always ask for the full figure before booking. For comparison, HomeSight's private home eye test is £30, with no call-out fee and prices confirmed before the visit. Whoever you choose, a trustworthy provider will tell you the total cost without being pressed.
Six questions to ask before you book
Booking a home eye test with HomeSight
HomeSight provides NHS-funded and private home eye tests across London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and the wider South East. GOC-registered optometrists carry out the test, you choose frames at home, and your glasses are delivered and fitted at home by the same team. We also run planned visit rounds for over 300 care homes.
One call books everything: we check NHS eligibility while you are on the phone, and there is no GP referral and no waiting list. If you are outside our area, we will say so straight away, and the questions above will help you choose well wherever you live. You can also send us your postcode and we will confirm coverage.
Ready to stop worrying about the journey?
A full eye test in your favourite armchair. NHS-funded where eligible, £30 privately if not.
Book a home eye testHome-visit opticians: common questions
Do Specsavers or other high-street opticians do home visits?
Some do, through dedicated services rather than the branch itself. Specsavers runs a separate Home Visits arm in many areas, OutsideClinic is a national home-visit specialist, and Visioncall focuses on care settings. Regional independents such as HomeSight cover their own areas. Most ordinary high-street branches do not test at home, so it is always worth asking who will actually carry out the visit.
Do I need a GP referral to book a home eye test?
No. You, a relative or a carer can contact a home-visit optician directly. Eligibility for NHS funding is checked over the phone and the paperwork is completed at the visit itself.
Is a home eye test as good as one in a shop?
The clinical content is the same. A GOC-registered optometrist brings portable versions of the high-street equipment, checks your vision and your eye health, and issues a prescription that any dispenser will accept.
What does a home eye test cost without NHS funding?
Prices vary between providers, so ask before you book. At HomeSight a private home eye test is £30, and any costs are always explained up front.
Can home eye tests be arranged for someone in a care home?
Yes. Providers with care-home experience arrange planned rounds so several residents can be seen in one visit. HomeSight works with over 300 care homes across the South East, and eligible residents' tests are NHS-funded.