If you need a sight test, contact a registered opthalmic optician or optometrist.

Choosing your optician

You can get lists of opticians from:

• Health and Social Services Councils;
• Health and Social Services Boards;
• Central Services Agency;
• Citizens' Advice Bureaux; and
• Yellow Pages.

Free sight tests

You can get free tests if:

• you are over 60;
• you are under 16;
• you are a full-time student under 19;
• you or your partner are getting certain benefits;
• you are on a low income; or
• you have special medical needs which may affect your sight.

Leaflet HC11 which you can get from social security offices, post offices or the Central Services Agency gives more information.

Having your eyes tested at home

If you can't visit your optician for reasons of illness or infirmity you can have your eyes tested at home. This is free of charge for people who get free sight tests. Other people may have to pay.

Your prescription

If you need glasses, your optician will give you a prescription which is usually valid for two years. You can choose where to buy your glasses but they must be made in line with a registered practitioner's prescription.

If you don't need glasses or your sight hasn't changed, your optician must give you a statement confirming this.

You might want to consider any guarantees or service arrangements for repairs or replacements.

Paying for your glasses

You may be able to get help with costs of glasses if:

• you are under 16;
• you are a full-time student under 19;
• you get certain benefits; or
• you need complex lenses.

Opticians' charges vary, so you should shop around.

Your optician can give you more information.

If things go wrong

If you can't keep an appointment, you should tell your optician as soon as possible.

• If you are not satisfied with your sight test, you should talk to your optician.
• If you have any complaints about your glasses, you should talk to the retailer who supplied them.
• You can also complain to the Optical Consumer Complaints Service.

You have a right to take your complaint further. For more information on how to complain about sight tests, prescriptions or glasses, you can contact your Health and Social Services Council.

You have a right to be treated politely with respect for your privacy and dignity.