NHS & Domiciliary Eye Care
NHS Optical Voucher Values 2026 — Complete Guide
If you're eligible for NHS help with the cost of glasses, you'll be given an optical voucher — a fixed contribution towards frames and lenses, based on how strong your prescription is. Here's what the current bands are worth.
Voucher values by band
| Band A (low prescription) | £41.70 |
| Band B | £63.20 |
| Band C | £92.60 |
| Band D (high prescription) | £210.50 |
| Band E (very high prescription) | £228.10 |
Complex lens vouchers (for prescriptions needing prisms or other special features): £15.81 (single vision) or £40.57 (bifocal). Voucher values as of April 2026.
How the voucher works
The voucher amount is deducted from the cost of your glasses at the point of purchase — it isn't paid to you directly. If you choose frames and lenses that cost more than your voucher value, you pay the difference. Many opticians, including Templeman, also stock frames within the standard NHS voucher range at no extra cost.
Who gets a voucher, and how much?
Your band depends on your prescription strength, not your personal circumstances — an optometrist works this out during your eye test. Whether you're entitled to a voucher at all depends on separate eligibility criteria (age, income, medical conditions) — see our NHS Eligibility guide for the full list.
How this works with a home eye test
If your home eye test is NHS-funded, any optical voucher you're entitled to works exactly the same way — we'll confirm your band after the test and help you choose frames within it. See our Glasses & Lenses page for how mobile frame selection and fitting works.
Check What You're Entitled To
Call us and we'll confirm your NHS eligibility and voucher entitlement.
📞 01268 777729