Boots Opticians Eye Test Cost in 2026: from £29.95
Boots Opticians offers three private eye tests: the Essential Eye Test from £29.95, the Advanced Eye Test from £54.95 (which adds an OCT scan), and the Ultimate Eye Test from £79.95 (which adds an optomap ultra-wide scan). The sight test is free if you qualify for NHS funding.
How much is an eye test at Boots Opticians? The standard Essential Eye Test starts from £29.95. Adding an OCT scan means the Advanced Eye Test from £54.95, and the top-tier Ultimate Eye Test with optomap is from £79.95. NHS-eligible patients pay nothing for the core test.
Boots Opticians Eye Test Pricing (2026)
| Service | 2026 Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Eye Test (standard private adult test) | from £29.95 | Sight test, prescription, retinal photo, dry eye check |
| Advanced Eye Test (OCT included) | from £54.95 | Essential test plus OCT 3D retinal scan |
| Ultimate Eye Test (optomap + OCT) | from £79.95 | Adds optomap ultra-wide scan; selected stores |
| OCT scan (add-on) | from £25 | The gap between Essential and Advanced |
| NHS-funded sight test | Free | If you qualify; Boots bills the NHS |
| Contact-lens check / aftercare | Varies | Charged separately; confirm with store |
Prices are Boots Opticians' own published “from” rates, verified August 2026. Boots stores are individually run, so exact fees and optomap availability vary by store; confirm with your local branch before booking.
Private vs NHS-Funded
The Essential Eye Test is the standard private option. Step up to the Advanced test (from £54.95) for an OCT scan, or the Ultimate test (from £79.95) for optomap imaging.
If you qualify, the core sight test costs nothing; Boots bills the NHS. OCT and optomap scans are still charged separately on top of an NHS-funded test.
Not sure which applies to you? Check the full eligibility list in the NHS free eye test guide. Most people under 16, over 60, on qualifying benefits, or with diabetes or glaucoma qualify.
Which Boots Eye Test Should You Choose?
The OCT scan (the difference between the Essential and Advanced tests) is a painless, non-invasive image that can reveal early signs of glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy years before they show up in a conventional exam. See the full OCT scan cost guide for a chain-by-chain comparison.
A Note on Boots Promotions
Boots regularly runs promotional offers that discount the Essential Eye Test, and recent promotions have brought it down to around £10 for a limited period. These offers change and are not guaranteed, so we treat the from £29.95 figure as the standard price throughout this guide. Always check the current offer on the Boots Opticians website or in store before booking, and remember an NHS-funded core test is free if you qualify regardless of any promotion.
Boots vs Other UK Chains
| Chain | Standard private test | With OCT |
|---|---|---|
| Asda Opticians | £20-£24 | Add-on varies |
| Specsavers | £25 | ~£35 (+£10) |
| Vision Express | £30 (OCT incl.) | Included |
| Boots Opticians | from £29.95 | from £54.95 (Advanced) |
Boots has the most expensive OCT-inclusive test of the big four, but bundles a dry eye evaluation into the Essential test. See the full UK eye test cost comparison for home-visit pricing and store counts across every chain.
FAQ
How much does an eye test cost at Boots Opticians in 2026?
Boots Opticians has three private tests. The Essential Eye Test starts from £29.95, the Advanced Eye Test (which adds an OCT scan) starts from £54.95, and the Ultimate Eye Test (which adds an optomap ultra-wide scan on top of OCT) starts from £79.95. If you qualify for an NHS-funded sight test the core test is free. Because Boots stores are individually run, prices can vary by region, so confirm with your local branch when booking.
Does the Boots eye test include an OCT scan?
Not the Essential Eye Test. The Essential test (from £29.95) covers the sight test, a written prescription, a digital retinal photograph and a dry eye evaluation. To get an OCT 3D retinal scan you need the Advanced Eye Test (from £54.95), which bundles the OCT on top of the Essential test. The OCT scan alone is charged from about £25, which is roughly the gap between the Essential and Advanced prices.
What is the difference between the Boots Advanced and Ultimate eye tests?
The Advanced Eye Test (from £54.95) is the Essential test plus an OCT scan, which images the layers beneath the retina and can flag over ten health conditions including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The Ultimate Eye Test (from £79.95) adds an optomap ultra-wide retinal scan on top of the OCT, capturing a much wider view of the retina in a single image. The optomap is offered at selected stores only, so check availability locally.
Is the Boots eye test free on the NHS?
Yes, if you qualify for NHS-funded care the core sight test is free at Boots, which bills the NHS directly. Eligible groups include everyone under 16, those aged 16 to 18 in full-time education, adults aged 60 and over, people with diabetes or glaucoma, those aged 40 or over with a family history of glaucoma, and people on qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit (Guarantee). Additional OCT or optomap scans are still charged separately even when the core test is NHS-funded.
Is Boots more expensive than Specsavers or Vision Express?
On the standard private test Boots (from £29.95) sits between Specsavers (£25) and the OCT-inclusive options. Once you want an OCT scan the picture changes: Vision Express bundles OCT into a single £30 Advanced Eye Test, and Specsavers is about £25 plus roughly £10 for OCT (around £35), while the Boots Advanced Eye Test with OCT is from £54.95. Asda Opticians is usually the cheapest standard test at £20 to £24 but does not bundle OCT. For an NHS-eligible patient the core test is free at all of them.
Does Boots run eye test promotions?
Boots regularly runs promotional offers that discount the Essential Eye Test, and recent promotions have brought it down to around £10 for a limited period. These offers change and are not guaranteed, so treat the from £29.95 figure as the standard price and check the current offer on the Boots Opticians website or in store before booking.
Sources
- Boots Opticians - Eye Tests
- Boots Opticians - Advanced Eye Test (OCT)
- NHS - Free NHS eye tests and optical vouchers
Prices are Boots Opticians' own published “from” rates, verified August 2026. OCT and optomap availability and exact fees vary by store; confirm with your local branch before booking.