Vision in NHS

Hi,

New poster here. Soon to be Yankee expat. I've seen some good & not so good things about the NHS here, but haven't seen anything about vision. Are eye appointments covered in the NHS? How about eyeglasses & contacts? Or lasik? What are the costs if they aren't completely covered? What would the wait be to get lasik, if it is offered? If anyone could answer, I would be most grateful.

Here's some info on eye tests from the Vision Express website:

http://www.visionexpress.com/offers/nhs-entitlement/nhs-eyetest

Some employers will contribute to the cost of eye tests and glasses or contacts.

I've not done any research on LASIK, but I've seen it advertised for about £400 per eye.

yep, nhs coverage for vision is fairly limited- in most cases (ie you don't qualify under any of the categories listed in the link lola posted), you just make an appointment with any optician and then pay for the test and your glasses or contacts.

Eye tests are free in Scotland.

You beat me to it Britwife!
(P.S. I LOVE Inverness!!)

Essentially nothing is covered by the NHS in England unless you're of a certain age or have other extenuating circumstances. However eye tests are dirt cheap (and as Lola said, a lot of employers will pay for eye tests if you spend a lot of time in front of a computer - mine always have!) and quite often you can get a free or half price eye test at places like D&A.

If you look around you will probably be able to get a free eye test.  Boots does special offers sometimes where eyetests are free (normally £18) and I often see signs in the local opticians for them (then they try to sell you the glasses but you dont HAVE to buy them).

If you do need glasses, I would highly recommend specsavers where they do buy one pair, get one free. 

Also keep in mind, you do not have to get your glasses or contact lenses from the same place as you have your eye test.  They are obliged to give you a copy of your prescription, so you can shop around. If you are getting contact lenses you may be able to find them a lot cheaper online.

My husband had lasik done and it cost about £3000 total. The cost depends upon your eyes.  It is cheaper if you can have the standard surgery; my husband's surgery was more complicated and he had to travel to London to get it done (we are all the way up in Yorkshire). They should give you a quote after your first consultation, which is where they will tell you what type of surgery you need.

If you look around you will probably be able to get a free eye test.  Boots does special offers sometimes where eyetests are free (normally £18) and I often see signs in the local opticians for them (then they try to sell you the glasses but you dont HAVE to buy them).

If you do need glasses, I would highly recommend specsavers where they do buy one pair, get one free. 

My MIL went to Boots last year and they refused to release her prescription to her...  They said that she had to get her glasses from them, so she went elsewhere for a re-test.   

My MIL went to Boots last year and they refused to release her prescription to her...  They said that she had to get her glasses from them, so she went elsewhere for a re-test.   

That seems weird  - I had an eye test at Boots last summer (for free with the Health Club) and they gave me my prescription right away. I walked out of the store and purchased my new glasses from somewhere else - no problem at all.

My MIL went to Boots last year and they refused to release her prescription to her...  They said that she had to get her glasses from them, so she went elsewhere for a re-test.   

Opticians are legally required to give you a copy of your prescription after your eye test so Boots were definitely wrong to do this. You do NOT have to get your glasses or lenses from the the same optician as did the test.

That seems weird  - I had an eye test at Boots last summer (for free with the Health Club) and they gave me my prescription right away. I walked out of the store and purchased my new glasses from somewhere else - no problem at all.

Same experience here

I've also had an eye exam at one place (Vision Express) and went somewhere else (Costco) to purchase my glasses.  The exam was as complete as one in the states. 
Our oldest daughter is seen by  an orthoptist and an ophthalmologist on the NHS.  The care that she has received for her vision is better than what she received in the states.