NHS home eye tests: who qualifies and how it works
The rule in one line: if you (or someone you care for) cannot leave home unaccompanied because of physical or mental illness or disability, the NHS will fund a sight test carried out at home — same test, no clinic visit.
Who typically qualifies
Housebound older people who can't attend a high-street practice alone
Care home and nursing home residents
People living with dementia, severe mobility issues or recovering from surgery
The usual NHS sight-test eligibility (over 60s, diabetes/glaucoma risk, certain benefits) applies at home just as it does in practice
What happens at the visit
A qualified optometrist brings portable equipment to the living room: full sight test, eye-health check (cataracts, glaucoma signs, macular changes), then glasses chosen and fitted at home on a later visit if needed. For care homes, good providers run scheduled visit days and keep records the home can show CQC.
In Essex or Suffolk? Templeman Opticians is a family-run domiciliary practice doing exactly this — NHS and private home visits. Book at templeman-opticians.com or call 01268 777729.
Want it handled? Real answers from the team behind DMT, WCR, Randalls & GTS. Book a home eye test →