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Free eye tests on offer at Tesco

By Lucy Halfhead on Friday 26 February 2010

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Eye test - News - Marie Claire

Universal free eye tests are to be offered by Tesco which has stepped in to offer a service that was free under the NHS until the 1980s.

The free tests for all were scrapped by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in 1988 under a wide-ranging shake-up in the supply of glasses. However, it subsequently emerged that many people were deterred from having an eye test by the cost which today is typically £15-£20.

Now Tesco is stepping in to the shoes of the NHS, the Daily Mail reports, as it opens another front in the battle to win customers with both free eye tests and prescription glasses starting at just £10. Other schemes thought to be under consideration to extend its reach include an internet estate agent business and cut-price legal services.

At the moment, the NHS pays for free tests for children and teenagers in full-time education, those over 60, those on benefits and those who are known to have certain eye conditions.

The new Tesco scheme look set to have dramatic results: when the Scottish Parliament reintroduced a system of free universal eye tests under the NHS in 2006, visits to optometrists increased by 64 %, according to the NHS Information Services Division.

Regular tests are important because they can identify a range of conditions such as glaucoma which could pose serious health risks if left untreated. According to the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) more than two million people in the UK risk losing their sight through treatable eye conditions.

Chief executive of the RNIB, Lesley-Anne Alexander, said: ‘We are delighted that Tesco has decided to provide free eye tests to their customers as well as introducing a low cost range of spectacles.

'RNIB research suggests that the cost can be a significant barrier to people getting eye tests, so we hope that this landmark decision will encourage many more people to get a their eyes tested regularly.'

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Friday 26 February 2010

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so when and where are Tesco going to have the eye tests?i think it is great news.
Comment by barbara on March 02 20:36

The true cost of a sight test is around £40-£50. This move by Tesco is not suprising- their aim to be the single store when one can purchase everything and every service under oen roof.e.g. food, petrol, holiday insurance, car insurance, electricals,,pharmaceuticals etc etc. They know what ever market they go into they can afford to make a loss whilst the competition go out of business and subsequently, variety and choice is reduced for the consumer. Very sad.
Comment by simon on March 05 11:53

i think this is just another tesco oppertunity
to take over all thay can and remove small business so thay go bust, its a disgrace and anyway thay will put the cost on the glasses
its just another dangle a carrat example of big chains today.
Comment by martyn wills on March 10 18:36

If you want to pay Â£30.00 for an eye test then do, if you think that by going to the big names in the high street and paying more for you goods is not wasting your money, then you have too much money to waste . Tesco's saves me money, I also do support local shops.
Comment by peter milburn on July 17 00:55