Eye care and glasses

This topic is for anyone planning or carrying out a move to Spain. It shows you where to go for each eye problem and what glasses and treatment cost. It covers the public route through your GP to the eye specialist, routine eye tests, using a foreign prescription, sudden eye problems, children's eyes and laser surgery.

Start with "Public eye care from GP referral to ophthalmologist (oftalmólogo)". It explains how the public route works and how long you may wait. After that, "Getting an eye test at an optician (óptica)" covers the usual first stop for a routine check and a new prescription.

Key rules

• VAT on glasses: Prescription glasses and contact lenses carry 4% IVA, while sunglasses and non-corrective glasses pay 21%.
• GP referral: In the public system you need a referral from your GP to see an ophthalmologist, except in emergencies, which you can take straight to hospital urgencias.
• Online returns: Online purchases normally have a 14-day withdrawal right, but glasses made to your prescription are usually excluded once made.
• Glasses: Adults pay for glasses and contact lenses themselves.
• First stop: For a routine eye test and prescription, go straight to an óptica without a doctor's appointment.
• Disease: An optician cannot diagnose or treat eye disease, so they refer you to an ophthalmologist if they find signs of it.

Eye care and glasses: the whole process, step by step

• Get an eye test and prescription at an optician (see: Getting an eye test at an optician): Any time for routine checks; no referral needed. Many shops do the test free or cheaply.

• Use a foreign prescription if you have one (see: Using a foreign glasses or contact lens prescription in Spain): Before ordering glasses; many shops prefer to re-measure with their own test, especially if the prescription is old.

• Get a referral from your GP for an eye disease or specialist problem (see: Public eye care from GP referral to ophthalmologist): First, before any public ophthalmology visit. Emergencies go straight to hospital urgencias (see: Sudden eye problems and where to get seen quickly).

• Wait for the first public ophthalmology consultation: Roughly 2 to 3 months on average nationally, from a few weeks to over six months depending on the region. See Public eye care from GP referral to ophthalmologist (oftalmólogo).

• Wait for cataract surgery if the specialist recommends it: Roughly 3 to 4 months on average nationally; some regions guarantee a maximum of 180 days.

• Buy glasses or lenses and check costs and aid (see: What glasses and contact lenses cost in Spain and what helps): After you have a prescription. Adults pay in full; children may get regional aid.

• Renew your prescription: Every 1 to 2 years, or sooner if your vision changes. See Getting an eye test at an optician (óptica).

Documents you may need

• A contact lens prescription with fitting details such as base curve and diameter — Using a foreign glasses or contact lens prescription in Spain
• A written copy of your eye test result — Getting an eye test at an optician (óptica)
• A prescription from an ophthalmologist — Getting an eye test at an optician (óptica)
• Your foreign glasses prescription — Using a foreign glasses or contact lens prescription in Spain
• A written copy of your prescription or printed sight-test values — Using a foreign glasses or contact lens prescription in Spain

Eye care and glasses: questions that cross several articles

Does the public system pay for my glasses?

No, adults pay for glasses and contact lenses in full in the public system. Some regions give limited aid for children or specific conditions such as keratoconus, with income and age conditions. Read What glasses and contact lenses cost in Spain and what helps, and Children's eye checks, lazy eye and short-sightedness in Spain.

Which eye treatments does the public system cover?

The public system covers treatment of eye disease, including cataract surgery with a standard lens, glaucoma, retinal problems and injections for wet macular degeneration. Premium lenses and laser surgery for short-sightedness are generally excluded. Read Public eye care from GP referral to ophthalmologist (oftalmólogo) and Laser eye surgery in Spain, costs, clinics and caution.

Can I take my prescription to a different optician?

Yes, you can ask for a written copy of your prescription or measurements and take it to any optician. Opticians usually hand it over on request, often free. If you have a foreign prescription, many shops will use it if it is clear, but some prefer to re-measure. Read Getting an eye test at an optician (óptica) and Using a foreign glasses or contact lens prescription in Spain.