OCT Scan Cost at UK Opticians: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Most opticians offer an OCT scan upgrade (Asda offers it at selected stores only). Here is an independent, unbiased assessment of what it costs, which chains offer it, what it detects, and whether you should pay for one.
How much does an OCT scan cost, and is it worth it?
An OCT scan costs up to £10 extra at Specsavers (up to £35 total with the £25 eye test), is included as standard at Vision Express (£30 Advanced Eye Test), and Boots quotes extra charges from £25 (its Advanced Eye Test is published from £54.95). Independent practices set their own fees and publish no standard rate. Is it worth it? For anyone over 40, diabetic, or with a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration, yes: it catches sight-threatening conditions years before symptoms appear, and at £10 it is trivial next to the value of early detection. For a healthy under-40 with no risk factors it is helpful for a baseline but not essential. Each chain quotes its scan as an “up to” or “from” figure that varies by store, so confirm when booking.
Read from each chain’s own published pages: Boots Opticians, Vision Express and Asda Opticians read 19 October 2026; Specsavers 2 October 2026. Specsavers, Boots Opticians, Vision Express, Optical Express.
What Is an OCT Scan?
OCT stands for optical coherence tomography. It uses light waves to create a detailed 3D cross-section image of your retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. Think of it like a CT scan, but for your eyes, and completely painless.
A standard eye test examines the surface of your retina. An OCT scan looks beneath the surface, revealing the individual layers of retinal tissue. This allows the optometrist to detect conditions that are invisible during a standard examination.
The scan itself takes about 30 seconds per eye. It is non-invasive, painless, and does not require eye drops or dilation in most cases. You simply rest your chin on a support and look at a target while the machine scans your eyes.
OCT Scan Cost by Optician
| Optician | OCT Cost | Total with Test | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specsavers | Up to +£10 | Up to £35 | Specsavers' own guidance: up to £10 in most stores; can vary in Scotland. |
| Vision Express | Included | £30 | Included in the £30 Advanced Eye Test. From £6 to add it to a free NHS test. |
| Boots Opticians | From +£25 | From £54.95 | Boots' own wording: “extra charges may apply from £25”, on its Essential test published from £29.95. |
| Asda Opticians | Selected stores | Not published | Not part of the £24 test; selected stores only, no published price. |
| Optical Express | Included in Advanced | £50 | Bundled into the £50 Advanced Eye Test. No standalone OCT price. |
| Independent | Not published | Not published | Practices set their own fees. Ask for the OCT charge when you book. |
Every figure in this table is the chain’s own published price: Boots Opticians, Vision Express and Asda Opticians read 19 October 2026; Specsavers 2 October 2026. Each chain’s bound is carried as it publishes it: Specsavers quotes the scan “up to £10”, Boots quotes “extra charges may apply from £25” and publishes its tests as “from” prices. Where a chain does not publish an OCT price, the cell says so rather than carrying an estimate: Asda advertises the scan at selected stores without a price, and independent practices set their own fees. Sources: specsavers.co.uk, bootsopticians.com, visionexpress.com, opticalexpress.co.uk, opticians.asda.com.
What Conditions Does an OCT Scan Detect?
Macular Degeneration
Essential for over 50sThe leading cause of sight loss in the UK for people over 50. OCT can detect early changes to the macula years before symptoms (distorted or blurred central vision) appear. Early detection allows lifestyle changes and treatment that can slow progression.
Glaucoma
Essential if family historyDamages the optic nerve, causing gradual peripheral vision loss. OCT measures the thickness of the nerve fibre layer around the optic disc. Thinning indicates early damage, often before visual field loss is detectable. Early treatment (usually eye drops) prevents further damage.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Essential for all diabeticsDiabetes damages the blood vessels in the retina. OCT can detect fluid leakage (macular oedema) and structural changes before they affect vision. Particularly important for Type 2 diabetics who may not know how long they have had the condition.
Vitreous Detachment
Useful for over 50sThe gel inside the eye separates from the retina, common after age 50. Usually harmless but can occasionally cause retinal tears. OCT confirms whether the detachment is complete and checks for any associated retinal damage.
Who Should Get an OCT Scan?
Strongly Recommended
- ✓Over 40 (risk of macular degeneration and glaucoma increases significantly)
- ✓Diabetic (Type 1 or Type 2)
- ✓Family history of macular degeneration
- ✓Family history of glaucoma
- ✓High blood pressure
- ✓High myopia (short-sightedness over -6.00)
- ✓Previous eye surgery or trauma
Nice to Have
- •Under 40 with no risk factors
- •No family history of eye conditions
- •Generally healthy with stable vision
Even if you are low risk, an initial OCT scan creates a baseline image. Future scans can be compared against it to detect any changes. At up to £10 at Specsavers, it is a modest investment for peace of mind.
The Honest Verdict
For over-40s and those with risk factors: Yes, absolutely worth it. The paid upgrade is up to £10 at Specsavers and from £25 at Boots, trivial compared to the value of early detection. Macular degeneration and glaucoma both cause irreversible vision loss. Catching them early through an OCT scan can genuinely save your sight.
For healthy under-40s: Helpful but not essential. If you can afford the extra £10 or so at Specsavers, it is worth doing to establish a baseline. If budgets are tight, a standard eye test still covers the fundamentals.
Best value: Vision Express (OCT included as standard in the £30 Advanced Eye Test) or Specsavers (up to £10 extra). The Boots Advanced Eye Test, published from £54.95, is the same core examination plus the scan and costs at least £19.95 more than the Specsavers equivalent.
How Often Do You Need an OCT Scan?
Your first OCT scan creates a baseline image. Each subsequent scan is compared against it to detect changes. The recommended frequency depends on your risk profile:
Low risk (under 40)
Every 2-3 years
Moderate risk (over 40, family history)
Every 1-2 years
High risk (diabetic, existing conditions)
Every year
Common Questions
How much does an OCT scan cost?
Specsavers charges up to £10 on top of its £25 test, in most stores. Boots quotes extra charges from £25, which is what takes the Essential test, published from £29.95, to the Advanced Eye Test, published from £54.95. Vision Express includes an OCT 3D scan in its £30 Advanced Eye Test at no separate charge, and Optical Express bundles OCT imaging into its £50 Advanced Eye Test rather than pricing the scan on its own. Independent practices set their own fees and publish no standard rate, so ask for the OCT charge when you book.
Which UK optician has the cheapest OCT scan?
Vision Express gives you the lowest published all-in price for an eye test with an OCT scan: £30, because the scan is bundled into its Advanced Eye Test with no separate charge. Of the chains that price the scan as an add-on, Specsavers asks the least, up to £10 on top of its £25 test, for up to £35 in total. Boots quotes extra charges from £25 on its Essential test and publishes the resulting Advanced Eye Test from £54.95, the dearest of the four.
How much is an OCT scan at Specsavers compared to Boots?
Specsavers charges up to £10 on top of its £25 test, so the enhanced test is up to £35. Boots quotes extra charges from £25, taking its Essential test, published from £29.95, to the Advanced Eye Test, published from £54.95. Specsavers is the cheaper upgrade on both the test and the scan. Both chains publish these as 'up to' and 'from' figures that can vary between stores.
Can you get an OCT scan free on the NHS?
A standard NHS-funded eye test does not include an OCT scan; OCT is a private add-on you pay for on top, even if you qualify for a free test. The exception is the hospital eye service: if your optometrist or GP refers you for a suspected condition such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, an OCT scan carried out as part of that NHS hospital care is free. For a routine test, expect up to £10 at Specsavers or from £25 at Boots, or choose Vision Express, which includes it in the £30 Advanced Eye Test and charges NHS-eligible customers from £6 to add it to a free test.
Is an OCT scan worth the extra money?
For people over 40, diabetics, and those with a family history of macular degeneration or glaucoma, an OCT scan is strongly recommended. It detects conditions years before symptoms appear. For healthy under-40s with no risk factors, it is helpful for establishing a baseline but not essential.
Do Asda Opticians do OCT scans?
Not as part of the standard £24 test. Asda advertises OCT 3D retinal imaging at selected stores only and publishes no price for it, so confirm availability and cost with your local branch. For an OCT scan with a clear published price, Vision Express includes one in its £30 Advanced Eye Test and Specsavers adds one for up to £10 on top of its £25 standard test.
Why does my receipt say 'Exempt Services' next to the OCT charge?
On till receipts, 'Exempt Services' refers to VAT: optical services are exempt from VAT, so the till categorises them that way. It does not mean the service should have been free to you. If your NHS sight test was free but you were charged separately at Specsavers or Boots, that charge is the optional OCT scan, which the NHS does not fund even for people entitled to free tests. OCT should always be offered as an optional choice before the test; if it was added without your agreement, ask the store about a refund.
Which UK opticians offer OCT scans?
Specsavers (up to £10 extra), Boots (extra charges from £25, taking its Advanced Eye Test to a published from £54.95), Vision Express (included in its £30 Advanced Eye Test) and Optical Express (included in its £50 Advanced Eye Test) all offer OCT scans, as do many independent practices, which set their own fees and publish no standard rate. Asda Opticians is the main high-street chain that does not include OCT as standard; it advertises it at selected stores only, with no published price.