PAGE ADDED AFTER A READER QUESTION · AUGUST 2026
Lost or broken glasses: do you need a new eye test?
Usually not, and knowing that can save you both a wait and a bill. Replacement glasses can be made from your existing prescription, and the prescription is yours: the optician must hand it over after every sight test and must give you a copy if you ask again later. Here is how it works.
The three facts that matter
- 1. Your prescription is normally valid for 2 years from your last test, and often 1 year if you are over 70 where the optometrist set a shorter recall. The expiry is on the prescription itself.
- 2. The prescription belongs to you. The optician must issue it after every sight test and must give you a copy on request. You never have to buy glasses where you were tested.
- 3. Anyone can dispense it. Any high street optician or online retailer can make up new glasses from a valid prescription, and prices vary a great deal, so it pays to compare.
When you DO need a new test
Two situations: your prescription has expired, or your eyesight has changed since it was issued (things look blurrier than they did through the old glasses). In either case the normal NHS rules decide whether the test is free: check your eligibility here. Losing your glasses does not by itself bring a free test forward, but a genuine change in vision is a clinical reason for one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new eye test if I lose or break my glasses?
Usually not. Replacement glasses can be made from your existing prescription, which is normally valid for 2 years from your last sight test (often 1 year if you are over 70, if your optometrist set a shorter recall). You only need a new test if your prescription has expired, or if your vision has changed since it was issued.
Can I get a copy of my glasses prescription?
Yes, it is yours by law. The optician must give you your prescription (or a statement that none is needed) after every sight test, and must give you a copy on request afterwards. You do not have to buy glasses from the optician who tested you.
Can any optician make glasses from my prescription?
Yes. You can take your prescription to any high street optician or use it to order glasses online. The practice that tested your eyes cannot require you to buy from them.
My prescription has expired. Will the new test be free?
The normal NHS eligibility rules apply: the test is free if you are under 16 (or under 19 in full-time education), 60 or over, have diabetes or glaucoma, are 40+ with a close relative with glaucoma, or qualify on income grounds. Losing your glasses does not by itself entitle you to a free NHS test before one is due, but if your vision has genuinely changed, tell the optometrist, as a clinically needed test is NHS-funded for eligible patients.
Can I get help with the cost of replacement glasses?
NHS optical vouchers help with glasses costs only for specific groups: children, people on qualifying benefits (such as Pension Credit Guarantee Credit), and holders of HC2/HC3 certificates under the NHS Low Income Scheme. Some home insurance policies also cover lost or broken glasses, and many opticians sell budget frames with standard lenses from around £15 to £40 if you are paying yourself.
General reference, not medical advice. Prescription validity is set by your optometrist and shown on the prescription; check yours before ordering. Verified August 2026.