Eye test
What it really means
A sight and eye-health check at an optician, recommended about every two years. In England most adults pay for it (some groups get free NHS tests — check the NHS website); in Scotland NHS eye tests are free.
Context, tips & common mistakes
Eye tests happen at high-street opticians, not the GP — book directly, pay a modest fee (free for some groups, and many employers cover tests for screen workers). The optometrist checks health as well as vision, and routinely spots conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure early; a two-yearly test is the standard rhythm.
The prescription they issue is legally yours: take it away and buy glasses anywhere, including cheaper online retailers — you are not obliged to buy frames where you tested, whatever the sales pressure implies. If you drive, remember UK law sets a vision standard (reading a number plate at distance), and it is your responsibility to meet it.