The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997

Regulations 1(2), 19(2)(b)

SCHEDULE 2 PRISMS, TINTS, PHOTOCHROMIC LENSES, SMALL AND SPECIAL GLASSES AND COMPLEX APPLIANCES

1.—(1) The amounts in column 3 of Schedule 1 and column 2 of Schedule 3 and in paragraphs 2(a) and (b) of this Schedule shall be increased as follows—

(a) by £5.30 in respect of each single vision lens containing a necessary prism;

(b) by £6.50 in respect of each other lens containing a necessary prism;

(c) by £2.80 in respect of each necessary single vision tinted lens;

(d) by £3.30 in respect of each necessary other tinted lens;

(e) by £44.80 in the case of supply or replacement of the glasses or repair of the whole frame, by £39.80 in the case of repair of the front of the frame and £21.50 in the case of repair of a side of a frame in respect of small glasses;

(f) where the voucher is issued or completed by an NHS trust, by £2.80 in respect of each necessary single vision photochromic lens and by £3.30 in respect of each necessary other photochromic lens;

(g) where the voucher is issued or completed by an NHS trust, by £44.80 in respect of glasses the frame of which is certified by the NHS trust as being required to be specially manufactured on account of the patient’s facial characteristics.

(2) The increases provided for by sub-paragraphs (1)(e), (f) and (g) of this paragraph do not apply in the case of a voucher relating to glasses if it is accepted in connection with the supply or replacement of contact lenses.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph “necessary” in relation to a prism or a tinted or photochromic lens means that the prism, tint or photochromic quality has been prescribed on the basis of clinical need.

(4) Where the face value of a voucher is increased in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(g) of this paragraph, it may not be further increased in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(e) of this paragraph. 2.The minimum complex appliance payment is—

(a) for a complex appliance with single vision lenses only, £4.50;

(b) for any other complex appliance, £24.10;

plus, in each case, the amount of any increase provided for by paragraph 1 of this Schedule.