As a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner, you aren’t able to claim for glasses or contact lenses on your annual Self Assessment unless they’re prescribed during your time at work, specifically for ‘monitor or screen work’.

If you wear these outside of work, they technically offer a dual purpose and aren’t considered exclusively related to business use. On the other hand, if a prescription is required for glasses that are ‘wholly and exclusively used for business purposes’, and you can prove that you don’t use them outside of work, the purchase is more likely to be considered an allowable business expense.

For example, a freelancer who largely works on screens for their income purchases a pair of glasses specifically for screen work during their job is more likely to have this business expense approved by HMRC. Another example that is more likely to be accepted is a contractor who might have two pairs of glasses; a standard pair for home and a specially prescribed pair for work. They would be unable to claim their home glasses as a business expense, but may be able to claim their work ones as they were specially prescribed for business purposes.

Can you claim an eye test as a business expense?

It’s generally fine to claim expenses for an eye test, providing you need it for the use of visual display equipment in your duties.

Want to learn more about what you can claim?

The rules on what you can and cannot claim as business expenses are complicated and vary depending on a number of factors. Perhaps you want to know if you can claim back on energy bills when using your home as an office, or how much you can claim back in expenses from throwing a Christmas party? Find all the answers in our knowledge hub.