Getting Used to New Glasses: What’s Normal in the First Two Weeks and When to Come Back
13 October 2026
07:18
Turning 60 changes two things about your eye care in Scotland. You can have an NHS eye examination every year instead of every two, and the conditions I am looking for become much more common.
The two are connected. The years after 60 are when cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration start to appear, often with no symptoms at all, and the yearly examination is there to catch them early.
NHS eye examinations are free for everyone in Scotland. For most adults they are every two years. From 60 onwards, you are eligible for an examination once a year.
That is a minimum, not a limit. If something changes between appointments, such as blurred vision, new floaters, a sore red eye, or straight lines that look bent, you do not need to wait. Ring us and we will see you. The general rules are in how often you should get your eyes tested.
An eye examination after 60 is not just about reading letters off a chart. It is a health check of the eye.
An OCT scan adds a cross-section through the layers of the retina and can show changes before they are visible in a photograph. I have explained what it shows in what an OCT eye scan is. The whole appointment is walked through in what happens at an eye test.
The lens inside the eye gradually clouds. Vision becomes dimmer and hazier, colours fade, and glare from headlights gets worse. It is very treatable. See cataracts explained.
Damage to the optic nerve that takes side vision first, usually without symptoms until it is advanced. Early detection is everything, and a family history raises your risk. See glaucoma, family history and what an OCT scan actually shows.
Affects your central vision. The early sign is often straight lines looking bent. One form can progress quickly and needs urgent treatment. See the early signs of macular degeneration.
Diabetes and high blood pressure both show up in the blood vessels at the back of the eye. If you have diabetes, you need your diabetic retinal screening as well as your eye examination, because they are different checks.
The examination itself is free. Glasses are a separate question, and this is where people are often surprised.
In Scotland, turning 60 does not on its own entitle you to help towards glasses. NHS optical vouchers are for children under 16, young people aged 16 to 18 in qualifying full-time education, and people on certain benefits or a low income. If you are over 60 and in one of those groups, you may well qualify, so bring proof to your appointment and we will check. The details are in free eye test in Scotland: who qualifies and how to book.
Most people over 60 need help with both distance and reading. Whether that means varifocals, separate pairs or readers depends on how you spend your day, as I have explained in varifocals, readers or two pairs.
Driving matters too. You are responsible for meeting the legal eyesight standard, and nobody checks it for you when your licence renews. The details are in eyesight and driving: the standard you have to meet. If headlights are bothering you more as the nights draw in, read night driving and winter glare.
If you cannot get to a practice on your own because of a physical or mental illness or a disability, you may be entitled to an NHS eye examination at home, and a relative or carer can arrange it for you. See our home visit eye tests page. And if you are reading this on behalf of a parent who has not seemed themselves lately, read vision, memory and getting older.
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Yes. NHS eye examinations are free for everyone in Scotland, and people aged 60 and over are eligible for one every year rather than every two years.
In Scotland, people aged 60 and over can have a free NHS eye examination once a year. You should book sooner if you notice any change, such as blurred or distorted vision, new floaters or flashes, or a painful red eye.
Not because of age alone. NHS optical vouchers towards glasses are for children under 16, young people aged 16 to 18 in qualifying full-time education, and people on certain benefits or a low income. People over 60 who are in one of those groups can receive a voucher.
In Scotland, NHS eye examinations are free for everyone, including people with a family history of glaucoma. Tell your optometrist about the family history, as it affects which tests are carried out and how often you should be seen.
Oval faces carry larger frames better than most face shapes. Keep the frame in proportion so your eyes still sit near the centre of each lens, and remember that bigger lenses are thicker if you have a strong prescription.
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