Specsavers Eye Test Cost 2026: Prices, What Is Included, and How to Book
Specsavers is the largest optician chain on the NHS register, at 764 optical sites in England. Here is what every test costs and what you get for your money.
How much is an eye test at Specsavers?
A standard private eye test at Specsavers costs £25. Adding an OCT 3D retinal scan costs up to £10 extra, bringing the enhanced test to £35. A standalone contact lens aftercare check is store-set at up to £30. If you qualify for an NHS-funded test (over 60, under 16, under 19 in full-time education, on certain benefits, or with diabetes or glaucoma) you pay nothing. In Scotland the NHS funds a free eye examination for every resident, so the standard test there is free for all ages. Elsewhere prices can vary slightly by store, so confirm with your local branch when booking.
Specsavers OCT scan cost
Specsavers prices the OCT 3D retinal scan as an up to £10 add-on to the £25 standard test in most stores. For comparison, Boots quotes extra charges from £25 and publishes its Advanced Eye Test from £54.95, while Vision Express bundles the scan into its £30 Advanced Eye Test with no separate charge; Asda publishes no OCT price. Independent practices set their own fees and publish no standard rate. The scan is a private extra, so it is not covered even if you qualify for a free NHS eye test. Over-40s, diabetics, and anyone with a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration should add it.
Specsavers £10 eye test offer: ended
The £10 eye test offer was valid for one test on or before 31 October 2026 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and that date has passed. Its eye test page still printed the terms when we read it on 3 November 2026, but a booking now pays the published £25 standard price, or nothing if the NHS funds your test.
£25
Standard test
Free if NHS-eligible
+ up to £10
OCT scan add-on
On top of the £25 test, in most stores
Up to £30
Contact lens check
Aftercare, store-set
Free
NHS eligible
Same examination
Specsavers publishes £25 for an adult eye test and the OCT scan as up to £10 on top; its own FAQ also gives the test as £20 to £25, since stores set their own price. £25 test re-read on specsavers.co.uk 3 November 2026; OCT and lens check figures read 2 October 2026.
Specsavers Eye Test Price List 2026
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard eye test | £25 | Free if NHS-eligible. |
| OCT 3D retinal scan (add-on) | Up to +£10 | Added to the £25 test. Specsavers' own wording is “up to £10” in most stores, varying in some Scottish stores. |
| Contact lens fitting (new wearers) | Free trial | Free contact lens assessment and trial for new wearers; you need a current eye test. |
| Contact lens aftercare check | Up to £30 | Specsavers' own wording is “a small fee (up to £30) depending on your store”. Free on the easycare plan. |
| easycare monthly plan | By lens type | Lenses delivered quarterly; all aftercare checks included free. Price depends on your lens type. |
| NHS-funded eye test | Free | Over 60, under 16, under 19 in full-time education, on certain benefits, diabetes or glaucoma. |
The £25 test price was re-read on specsavers.co.uk on 3 November 2026; the OCT and contact lens figures were read on 2 October 2026, and all can vary slightly by store. Parts of specsavers.co.uk refuse automated requests from our server, so those pages are re-read by hand rather than on the same schedule as Boots, Vision Express and Asda. In Scotland the standard NHS-funded test is free for all residents; the OCT add-on may still be charged. The initial contact lens fitting is usually free with a trial; standalone aftercare fees are store-set. Verify with your local branch when booking.
What the Standard £25 Test Includes
The standard £25 test covers:
- ✓Visual acuity assessment (distance and near)
- ✓Refraction to determine your exact prescription
- ✓Intraocular pressure measurement (glaucoma screening)
- ✓Slit lamp examination of the front of the eye
- ✓Retinal examination using an ophthalmoscope
- ✓Colour vision screening
- ✓Discussion of results and recommendations
This is a comprehensive examination that goes beyond checking whether you need glasses. The optometrist screens for eye conditions including glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and signs of diabetes.
OCT Scan at Specsavers
Specsavers sells the OCT scan as an add-on to the standard test.
Up to £10 extra
On top of the £25 test
The OCT (optical coherence tomography) scan creates a detailed 3D cross-section image of your retina. It can detect conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic eye disease years before symptoms appear.
Who should add it: Over 40s, diabetics, anyone with a family history of macular degeneration or glaucoma. Specsavers charges up to £10 on top of a private test. Boots sells its scan inside the Advanced test, from £54.95, and Vision Express publishes £6 to add OCT to an NHS-funded test. Independent practices set their own scan charge, so ask for it when you book.
Contact Lens Services
Initial Fitting
Free with a trial
Specsavers offers a free contact lens assessment and trial for new wearers (you need a current eye test). Full assessment, trial lenses, teaching insertion and removal.
Aftercare Check
Up to £30
Shorter follow-up to check fit and corneal health. Specsavers describes this as “a small fee (up to £30) depending on your store” and waives it entirely on the easycare plan.
Specsavers easycare Monthly Plans
Priced by lens type. The easycare direct-debit package delivers your contact lenses every quarter and includes all aftercare appointments free, plus solutions. The monthly plan can work out significantly cheaper than buying lenses and aftercare separately.
Promotions and Offers
What the Specsavers eye test page carried when we read it on 3 November 2026:
- •£25 for an adult eye test (some stores charge less; Specsavers' own FAQ gives £20 to £25)
- •2 for 1 glasses from £70: a glasses offer, not a discount on the test
- •The £10 eye test offer, valid on or before 31 October 2026, has ended
Specsavers changes its offers often; check specsavers.co.uk/offers or your local store before you book.
NHS Tests at Specsavers
Specsavers accepts NHS-funded eye tests for all qualifying groups. The NHS pays the practice for the sight test, and there is no obligation to buy glasses.
There is no obligation to buy glasses afterwards. If you need glasses, you can use an NHS optical voucher towards the cost or take your prescription elsewhere.
Check your NHS eligibility →How to Book
Online
Book at specsavers.co.uk. Choose your branch, select a date and time. Typically appointments available within a few days.
Phone
Call your local branch directly. Useful if you have specific requirements or need an urgent appointment.
Walk-in
Some branches accept walk-ins, but availability varies. Booking in advance is recommended, especially on weekends.
How Specsavers Compares
| Optician | Standard | With OCT | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specsavers | £25 | £25 + up to £10 | OCT is a separate charge of up to £10 on top of the test |
| Boots Opticians | From £29.95 | From £54.95 | Dearest of the four; scan sold as a paid tier |
| Vision Express | £30 | Included in £30 | No extra charge for the scan on a private test |
| Asda Opticians | £24 | N/A | £24 single price, fewer locations |
Specsavers Eye Test: Common Questions
How much is an eye test at Specsavers?
A standard eye test at Specsavers costs £25. An OCT scan upgrade adds up to £10 in most stores. A standalone contact lens aftercare check is store-set at up to £30. NHS-eligible customers get their test free.
How much is an OCT scan at Specsavers?
Specsavers charges up to £10 for an OCT 3D retinal scan on top of the £25 standard eye test in most stores. For comparison, Boots quotes extra charges from £25 and publishes its Advanced Eye Test from £54.95, and Vision Express includes OCT in its £30 private test. The OCT scan is a private add-on, so it is not covered by an NHS-funded test even if you qualify for a free eye test.
Is there a £10 eye test at Specsavers?
Not any more. Specsavers ran a £10 eye test offer in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, valid for one test on or before 31 October 2026, and that date has passed. Its eye test page still printed the offer terms when we read it on 3 November 2026, but the validity date had expired, so the standard adult test is back to the published £25. It never applied in Scotland, where the NHS funds a free test for every resident, or to anyone already entitled to a free NHS-funded test.
How much does a contact lens check cost at Specsavers?
A first-time contact lens fitting is usually free: Specsavers offers a free contact lens trial for new wearers (you need a current eye test). Standalone aftercare checks are store-set, in Specsavers' own wording a small fee up to £30 depending on your store. Specsavers easycare monthly plans are priced by lens type and include aftercare appointments free.
Does Specsavers offer free eye tests?
Specsavers accepts NHS-funded eye tests for everyone who qualifies, so the standard test is free for those groups, and in Scotland the NHS funds a free test for every resident. Specsavers does not advertise a free private eye test: its eye test page (read 3 November 2026) lists £25 for an adult test alongside 2 for 1 glasses from £70, which is a glasses offer, not a test offer.
Is a Specsavers eye test free in Scotland?
Yes. Scotland is the only UK nation to fund a universal free NHS eye examination, so a standard eye test at a Specsavers store in Scotland is free for every resident, regardless of age or income. Private add-ons such as the OCT scan can still carry a small charge that varies by store. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the standard test is only free if you fall into an NHS-eligible group (over 60, under 16, under 19 in full-time education, on certain benefits, or with diabetes or glaucoma).
Are Specsavers eye tests free for over 60s?
Yes. Anyone aged 60 or over qualifies for an NHS-funded eye test, so the standard test at Specsavers is free across the whole UK. There is nothing to pay for the standard examination. Private add-ons such as the £10 OCT 3D scan are not covered by the NHS, so you would pay for those separately if you choose to add them.
How long does a Specsavers eye test take?
Specsavers' main UK eye test page gives no appointment length (read 3 November 2026), and its help pages could not be read from here, so no figure here is attributed to it. Of the big four, the other three do publish one: Vision Express says its eye test "usually lasts 25 minutes", Asda gives "usually about 30 minutes" for the examination, and Boots gives "up to 1 hour 30 minutes in total" for a visit that includes pre-screening and choosing glasses. Those figures are measuring different things, which is why a single industry number is misleading. Ask your Specsavers store for the slot length when you book, and allow extra time if you intend to look at frames.
Do you have to buy glasses after a Specsavers eye test?
No. Your prescription belongs to you and the optometrist must give you a copy at the end of the test, so there is no obligation to buy glasses or contact lenses from Specsavers. You can take the prescription to any other optician or an online retailer. Ask for your pupillary distance (PD) measurement too, as you are entitled to it and online retailers need it.
Does Specsavers charge for an eye test at home?
The test itself is free if you qualify for an NHS sight test and also cannot get to an optician on your own because of illness or disability; that combination entitles you to an NHS home visit, which Specsavers Home Visits provides. Glasses ordered at the visit are charged separately unless you qualify for an NHS optical voucher, for example through Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or a complex prescription. If you are billed after a home visit, ask for an itemised receipt so you can see what was for the test and what was for glasses. (Answer added after a reader question, October 2026.)
Specsavers branches on the NHS register
The NHS Organisation Data Service listed 764 open Specsavers optical sites in England on 19 October 2026, across 287 local authority districts. That is 12.0% of the 6,374 optical sites on the register in England. Every one of them can carry out an NHS-funded sight test for people who qualify.