Is a free eye exam considered public funds?

I went for my first eye exam in the UK today (just a routine check-up so I could get a prescription for contact lenses), and the eye doctor told me that the NHS would pay for the cost of my eye exam due to my vision being so poor.  I asked if this was considered public funds, since I'm not allowed access to those on my current visa, and she said it wasn't.  She seemed a bit confused by my question, though, and I just wanted to check and make sure I didn't accept something I wasn't entitled to--I know I'm allowed to use the NHS, but wasn't sure if there are restrictions to that.  Thanks!

NHS is NOT public funds.

What kind of visa are you on?  Take a look at this thread:  http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=12106.0

I'm on a Tier 1 visa, which I'm assuming isn't any different from a spousal visa in terms of what I can and can't access?  I just got confused because my flatmate, who's an EEA national, had to pay £20 for her eye exam, whereas mine was free.  

If you've already registered with a GP and they've accepted you as an NHS patient, don't worry about it. Really. They've determined that you have extremely poor eyesight and due to that you qualify for free exams through the NHS, thereby it's not public funds.

I just got confused because my flatmate, who's an EEA natural, had to pay £20 for her eye exam, whereas mine was free. 

It can depend on your age/eyesight/work circumstances, as well as other medical reasons, as to whether you get free exams or not. My mum gets free eye tests because she works on a computer all day and my dad gets them for free because he has really bad eyesight. My youngest brother still gets them free because he is in full-time education, but my other brother and I have to pay £20 for ours (we're all British citizens)!

Wow, cool!    Thanks for the replies!

I'm on a Tier 1 visa, which I'm assuming isn't any different from a spousal visa in terms of what I can and can't access?  I just got confused because my flatmate, who's an EEA national, had to pay £20 for her eye exam, whereas mine was free.  

It depends on your condition though.

For example, due to DW's particular medical condition she qualifies for free prescriptions whereas I don't.

It has nothing to do with "recourse to public funds"

Just in case anyone is looking to get a eye test... for the past few months, our local tesco does free eye tests every tues-fri (in hopes you buy the glasses there). And I've seen Boots with signs outside sometimes too advertising free eye tests.