Buying glasses: Is spending more better for your eyes?

From eye tests to frames and lenses, the cost of looking after your sight can vary wildly. Rebecca Goodman looks at how prices compare

- Rebecca Goodman

At the age of 39 I've been told I should start wearing glasses when working or driving. On finding out, I suddenly faced a world of decisions – and they all involved a cost. As well as the eye test, I needed to pay for frames – costing from £20 to £200 at my local optician's – and decide whether to go for extras such as anti-reflection coatings for the lenses or extra-light frames.

Most people (86%) buy their glasses from the same optician's where they have an eye test, according to research by UK regulator the General Optical Council (GOC), and only 8% buy online despite the lower costs. But I wanted to know what shopping around could save me – and whether spending more would be better for my eyes.

The eye test
A basic eye test typically costs between £20 and £30, and it is recommended that you have one every two years. An enhanced eye test is also available at most opticians. Costs can really vary. Specsavers says an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan – which takes a 3D image of the back of the eye – may cost up to £10 extra, whereas some Boots outlets charge an extra £60 for an OCT scan and an "optomap" eye scan.

Manveer Seyan, a senior lecturer in optometry at the University of Hertfordshire, says a basic eye test is adequate in most cases, but enhanced examinations can help to detect the earliest signs of eye disease, often before symptoms appear. "The scans are also very useful in monitoring the progression of any retinal conditions," he says. "If an optometrist recommends an enhanced eye examination, it would be advisable to have one."

Some people can get free eye tests through the NHS if they are eligible, such as if they are receiving certain benefits. Anyone using a screen for their work should also be entitled to a free eye test through their employer, while some companies may contribute to the price of glasses if you are required to wear them for your job.