We recently consulted on introducing mandatory eye tests for drivers aged 70 and over. The consultation closed on 11 May and we are now analysing the responses received. The logistical arrangements for carrying out any potential new eyesight tests formed part of the consultation. No decisions will be made until the responses to the consultation have been carefully considered.

All drivers have a legal responsibility to ensure that they meet the required vision standards for driving, including the use of glasses or corrective lenses where necessary. The DVLA provides clear guidance on eyesight requirements for driving, which is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules

Although there is no legal obligation on medical professionals to notify the DVLA about a patient who is medically unfit to drive, they do have a duty to report this if it is in the public interest to do so. The General Medical Council and General Optical Council guidance confirms that it is appropriate to notify the DVLA directly, even if the patient does not consent when their patient is unwilling or unable to notify the DVLA themselves.

In the Road Safety Strategy, the Government committed to continue engaging with the relevant regulatory bodies to highlight the importance of healthcare professionals notifying DVLA if their patient is unwilling or unable to notify.

There are currently no plans to require drivers to carry a spare pair of glasses in their vehicle. The existing legal framework places responsibility on individual drivers to ensure they can meet the vision standards whenever they are driving. Driving without meeting these standards, including where glasses or corrective lenses are needed but not worn, is an offence and may result in enforcement action.

The National Health Service is a residency-based system, which means that people who do not live here on a lawful, settled basis must contribute to the cost of their care. However, some of the most vulnerable people arriving in the United Kingdom, including refugees and asylum seekers, do not pay for NHS treatment.

Asylum seekers who are receiving support from the Home Office under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will automatically receive a HC2 certificate for full help with health costs. From the data available it is not possible to determine the total number, or cost of, sight tests or optical vouchers provided to asylum seekers, as eligibility to NHS services and to free means-tested services is not based on immigration status. Immigration status is therefore not recorded when services are provided.

Asylum seekers are entitled to free new glasses or contact lenses in the same way as other residents meeting the means-test criteria. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/

The Home Office and its contractors work closely with the NHS, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations to ensure that people can access the health care and support they need.

The National Health Service is a residency-based system, which means that people who do not live here on a lawful, settled basis must contribute to the cost of their care. However, some of the most vulnerable people arriving in the United Kingdom, including refugees and asylum seekers, do not pay for NHS treatment.

Asylum seekers who are receiving support from the Home Office under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will automatically receive a HC2 certificate for full help with health costs. From the data available it is not possible to determine the total number, or cost of, sight tests or optical vouchers provided to asylum seekers, as eligibility to NHS services and to free means-tested services is not based on immigration status. Immigration status is therefore not recorded when services are provided.

Asylum seekers are entitled to free new glasses or contact lenses in the same way as other residents meeting the means-test criteria. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/

The Home Office and its contractors work closely with the NHS, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations to ensure that people can access the health care and support they need.

The government offers support for individuals to help with the cost of glasses through NHS optical vouchers. Those eligible for help include children and those on certain income-related benefits. The value of optical vouchers varies from £42.40 to £233.56, depending on the level of a patient’s glasses prescription.

While spectacles attract the standard rate of VAT, health and welfare services, including opticians and eye tests, are exempt from VAT made by qualifying opticians.

One of the key considerations for any potential new VAT relief is whether the cost saving is likely to be passed on to consumers. Evidence suggests that businesses only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates.

VAT is a broad-based tax that applies to most goods and services. Any new VAT relief must be considered in the context of the current fiscal position. As set out at the end of July, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has pledged to restore economic stability after revealing £22 billion of unfunded pressures in 2024-25 inherited from the previous Government.

Restoring fiscal responsibility and economic stability are critical to getting our economy growing and keeping taxes, inflation, and mortgages as low as possible.

As with all taxes, the Government welcomes representations on how the tax system can be improved.

NHS optical vouchers are available for children to help with the cost of glasses that correct a defect in sight. There are ten optical voucher values ranging from £42.40 to £233.56, depending on the strength of the optical lenses. The cost of glasses will be set by individual optical practices and because prices can vary, we would always advise individuals to shop around.

National Health Service optical vouchers to help with the cost of glasses or contact lenses are available for eligible groups, including children and people on income-related benefits, and through the NHS low-income scheme. There are ten optical vouchers ranging from £42.40 to £233.56, depending on the strength of the optical lenses. Help is also available through the NHS complex lens voucher, for any individuals prescribed complex lenses, provided they meet the clinical criteria. The cost of glasses will be set by individual optical practices, and because prices can vary, we would always advise that individuals shop around.

National Health Service optical vouchers are available to help with the cost of glasses considered necessary to help correct a defect of sight. Coloured lenses that do not contain a prescription power and are not prescribed to correct a defect in sight, would not be eligible for funding via an NHS optical voucher.

The use of bioptic devices and the possible implications on fitness to drive was discussed at a meeting of the Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Visual Disorders meeting in October 2022.

The panel agreed that bioptics are only used on an average of 2% of driving time, thus resulting in the remaining 98% of driving time occurring with impaired visual acuity. The panel considered that the use of the bioptic device impinges upon the binocular visual field. Therefore, the panel agreed the use of such devices remain unacceptable for driving.

The information requested is not held centrally.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Full details of those entitled to National Health Service (NHS) sight tests and optical vouchers is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/

The NHS Business Services Authority also promote access to support with the cost of glasses through their Help With Health Costs Facebook page and Twitter account, in addition to a dedicated helpline.

NHS optical vouchers are available for certain eligible groups to help with the cost of glasses or contact lenses, this includes individuals and their partners’ who are in receipt of Pension Credit.

The Department has undertaken a range of actions to raise awareness of Pension Credit; encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim. This has included a Pension Credit media day of action in June, working with stakeholders such as the BBC, Age UK and others. We continue to use opportunities to promote Pension Credit including using proactive press activity and social media posts to reach potential recipients, their families and friends.

We also engage closely with stakeholders and have set up the Pension Credit working group, made up of a diverse range of organisations with reach and expertise, and including pensioner charities, the BBC, British Telecom, Virgin Money and the Local Government Association. The group is tasked with identifying new practical initiatives that we can work on together to help increase Pension Credit take up.

We have revised and expanded the Pension Credit guide on the GOV UK website to include clear information about the additional financial support available to people on Pension Credit, as well as detailing the extra amounts that can be included in an award for those who are severely disabled, or have caring responsibilities or certain housing costs. The key is ensuring pensioners have all the information they need to make a claim and that our messaging resonates with them and their families.

Over the coming weeks, over 11 million pensioners in Great Britain will receive information about Pension Credit in a leaflet accompanying their annual up-rating letter. This includes prominent messaging highlighting that an award of Pension Credit can also open the door to a wide range of additional benefits – not only extra help with fuel costs, but also help with rent, council tax, certain health related costs and a free over-75 TV licence.

No specific discussions have taken place.

VAT relief is already provided on the dispensing, measuring and fitting of prescription glasses and on fees in relation to the fitting of safety spectacles. In addition, medical tests including sight tests are exempt from VAT.

There continues to be a lack of consensus amongst medical professionals as to the existence and nature of Meares-Irlen syndrome as a distinct syndrome.

Any individuals experiencing visual symptoms should consult an optometrist to ensure that the possibility of refractive error or eye disease is not overlooked.

If after a sight test (and glasses if necessary) an individual is still experiencing difficulties, then a wider assessment may be necessary. Optometrist are able to arrange an onward referral to the appropriate discipline, if required.

In the case of a child, a wider assessment would involve collaboration across education, health and other professionals to identify the best response for the individual concerned.

Help with the cost of prescription glasses, through National Health Service optical vouchers, is currently available for eligible groups, including children, to help correct a defect in sight, identified during an NHS sight test. There are no plans to change the criteria for NHS optical vouchers.

No assessment has been made of the merits of allowing orthoptists to sign hospital eye service spectacle prescriptions. The Opticians Act 1989 sets out who may carry out a sight test and sign a spectacle prescription form. This is restricted under the Act to optometrists registered with the General Optical Council and Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners registered with the General Medical Council.

Where an optician prescribes lenses, including tinted lenses, eligible patients receive vouchers to help with the cost of glasses. This would include children with defects of sight who also have dyslexia. Help with the cost of glasses however is only available where lenses have been prescribed to correct a defect of sight and there are no plans to change this.