Are you entitled to a free eye test?

According to the Eye Care Trust, more than 30 million people in the UK are entitled to a free eye examination paid for by the NHS.

Some people may also be entitled to help with buying glasses - your optician should be able to advise on this. The following people are entitled to free eye tests:

• Aged 60 or over
• Under 16 or under 19 still in full time education
• Live in Scotland
• Diagnosed as having diabetes or glaucoma
• 40 years of age or over with a close relative with glaucoma
• Registered blind or partially sighted
• In need of complex lenses (you may also get an optical voucher)
• Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Working Tax Credit/Child Tax Credit (and are named on a NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate)
• You are named on a valid HC2 or HC3 certificate
• Under 16 or under 19 and still in full time education
• Named on a valid HC2 or HC3 certificate
• In need of complex lenses
• You or your partner claim Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Working Family’s Tax Credit/Disabled Person’s Tax Credit (and are named on a NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate)

You may also be entitled to a free test even if you're not in the above groups. Under EU legislation, employers whose employees have responsibilities towards employees who regularly use VDUs as part of their work. These regulations also protect users who work for an employer from home or any other location which is not the employer’s main office. If you are classified as a user, your employer must:

• Provide a full eye examination free of charge to you when you commence VDU work and at regular intervals thereafter
• Provide a full eye examination free of charge to you if you are experiencing visual problems which may be due to working with a VDU
• Pay for a pair of basic glasses if it is shown that you require these specifically for VDU use, or an equivalent amount of money towards a pair of your choice
• Provide adequate breaks or changes of activity to reduce general visual fatigue
• Provide health and safety training information relating to the workstation. Keep you informed about the Regulations, particularly those relating to eyesight, rest breaks and guidance on work station minimum requirements

Talk to your trade union if you need more information or you think you're entitled to help that your employer is not providing.