Who is allowed to test your eyes
Sight testing is a restricted activity. It must be carried out by a registered optometrist, an ophthalmic medical practitioner, or a doctor. Dispensing opticians, who fit and supply glasses, are registered separately and are not permitted to test sight.
All of them appear on the General Optical Council register, along with registered optical businesses. If the person testing your eyes is not on it, something is wrong.
Your prescription belongs to you
Under the Opticians Act 1989 you must be given a copy of your prescription at the end of a sight test, whether or not you buy anything. You are free to take it to another shop, or online, and buy your glasses there.
A practice that will not hand over your prescription, or that makes it conditional on buying frames, is not entitled to do that. The same applies to a contact lens specification once your fitting is complete.
What this is worth in practice
The sight test and the glasses are separate purchases. Have the test where you trust the clinician and buy the frames wherever the price suits you.
Free NHS sight tests
NHS sight tests are free for a defined list of groups, including children under 16, people aged 60 and over, people on certain benefits, and people with particular eye conditions or a family history of glaucoma. The rules differ across the four UK nations, and in Scotland NHS sight tests are free for everyone.
Eligibility is worth checking before you book rather than after, because a practice cannot reclaim a fee from the NHS retrospectively if you were entitled and did not say so.
What a sight test actually checks
A sight test is not only about whether you need glasses. It is an examination of eye health, and optometrists routinely pick up early signs of glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, and sometimes diabetes and high blood pressure.
That is why the recommended interval is usually two years even when your vision seems unchanged, and sooner if you notice a difference.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I buy glasses online using my prescription?
- Yes. Once you have your prescription you can use it anywhere. For higher prescriptions, varifocals, or children under 16 a proper fitting matters more, and some supplies to under-16s and to people registered sight impaired must be overseen by a registered optician.
- How long is a glasses prescription valid?
- There is no fixed legal expiry, but most practices treat a prescription as current for two years for adults and one year for children, and many online retailers will not accept an older one. Your eyes may also simply have changed.
- Is an eye test the same as an eye examination?
- The terms are used interchangeably in shops, but the clinical content is what matters. A proper sight test includes an assessment of eye health, not just a refraction to work out lens strength.
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About this guide
Written and maintained by the LocalListed editorial team. It describes UK regulation and consumer protections in general terms and is not legal, financial or professional advice. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and change over time: always check the position with the named regulator before relying on it.