Step one: book a routine eye test at any NHS-approved optician. That’s free for kids, over-60s, and people on benefits. Everyone else pays about £25.
Photographing your eye: Ophthalmic Imaging - Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Step two: mention a weird symptom. “I see flashing lights at night.” Or “I think my vision is a bit blurry.” Even “I woke up with a funny floaty spot.” That triggers the red flag protocol.
Step three: the optician gasps (dramatically). They say, “We need an OCT.” Boom. Free. The NHS picks up the tab. It’s like winning the medical lottery.
Don’t lie, though. Lying to an optician is pointless. They have machines that detect fibs. And they probably know your grandma.
The Weirdest Truth of All
OCT scans are so good, they can spot multiple sclerosis years before other tests. Your eye is a fortune teller. Who knew?
They also check for hole in the macula. That’s not a donut hole. It’s a real problem. But the scan catches it early.
So, the next time someone says “OCT scan,” you can nod wisely. You now know it’s free on the NHS for the lucky, the sick, or the suspicious. You’re welcome.
