📊 Eye Care Tax Relief at a Glance
- Relief rate: 20% of qualifying costs
- What qualifies: Eye tests, glasses, contact lenses, laser surgery
- Backdate period: Up to 4 years
- Key requirement: Must be medically prescribed
- Average claim: €150-€400 over 4 years
Eye tests, prescription glasses, and contact lenses can all qualify for 20% tax relief through Revenue's medical expense provisions—but many Irish workers never claim what they're entitled to. If you've paid for prescribed optical care over the past four years, you could be owed a significant refund that's sitting unclaimed.
At MyTaxRebate.ie, our tax specialists help PAYE workers claim optical expenses alongside all other medical expense reliefs they may be missing. We handle the entire process from start to finish, ensuring you receive the maximum refund you're entitled to without the hassle of navigating Revenue's systems yourself.
What Eye Care Expenses Qualify for Tax Relief?
Revenue allows tax relief on optical expenses that are medically necessary and prescribed by a qualified practitioner. This includes a wide range of costs that many people don't realise they can claim. The key requirement is that the eye care must be prescribed for medical reasons—routine check-ups where no prescription is issued typically won't qualify.
Qualifying Optical Expenses:
- Eye examinations – Tests performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist that result in a prescription or treatment recommendation
- Prescription glasses – Both frames and lenses when medically prescribed, including varifocals and specialist lenses
- Contact lenses – Including daily disposables, monthly lenses, and specialist corrective lenses for conditions like keratoconus
- Laser eye surgery – LASIK, LASEK, PRK, and other corrective procedures to treat refractive errors
- Lens solutions and care products – Contact lens cleaning solutions, storage cases, and related care products
- Specialist treatments – Medical treatments for conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy
It's worth noting that prescription sunglasses also qualify if they're prescribed for a medical reason. However, regular non-prescription sunglasses—even expensive designer ones—don't attract any tax relief as they're considered a personal choice rather than a medical necessity.
How Much Tax Relief Can You Claim?
Tax relief on optical expenses is calculated at the standard rate of 20%. This means for every €100 you spend on qualifying eye care, you can claim €20 back from Revenue. While this might seem modest for a single eye test, the amounts can add up significantly when you consider all your optical expenses over the four-year claim period.
💡 Example Calculation Over 4 Years:
| Eye tests (€50 × 4 years) | €200 |
| New prescription glasses (2 pairs @ €350) | €700 |
| Contact lenses (€300/year × 4 years) | €1,200 |
| Lens solutions and care products | €200 |
| Total qualifying expenses | €2,300 |
| Tax relief at 20% | €460 refund |
Many people underestimate how much they spend on eye care over four years. When you combine annual eye tests, new glasses every couple of years, and ongoing contact lens costs, the potential refund becomes well worth claiming. And if you've had laser eye surgery, the refund could be even more substantial given the high cost of these procedures.
What Documentation Do You Need?
To claim tax relief on optical expenses, you'll need to provide proof of payment and evidence that the eye care was prescribed. Our team at MyTaxRebate.ie can guide you through exactly what's required and help you gather the necessary documentation:
- Receipts – Itemised receipts from your optician showing clearly what you paid for, including the date of purchase and breakdown of items
- Prescriptions – Evidence that glasses or lenses were medically prescribed, such as your prescription form or a letter from your optometrist
- Bank or card statements – These can support claims if original receipts are unavailable, though itemised receipts are preferred
- Practitioner details – The name and registration number of the optometrist or ophthalmologist who provided the prescription
Don't worry if you've lost some receipts—many opticians maintain digital records and can provide duplicate receipts upon request. Some optical chains even offer year-end summaries of all purchases, which makes claiming much easier. Our specialists know how to work with whatever documentation you have available and can advise on obtaining what's needed.
Laser Eye Surgery Tax Relief
Laser eye surgery is one of the most valuable optical expenses you can claim, given the high cost of these procedures. Whether you've had LASIK, LASEK, PRK, or another corrective procedure, the full cost qualifies for 20% tax relief. With procedures typically costing €2,500-€4,500 or more, that's a potential refund of €500-€900.
Remember that you can backdate claims for up to four years. If you had laser surgery three years ago and never claimed the tax relief, it's not too late—the money is still waiting to be claimed. Our team at MyTaxRebate.ie frequently helps clients recover relief on laser surgery they assumed they'd missed out on.
Combining Eye Care with Other Medical Expenses
One of the biggest mistakes people make is claiming optical expenses in isolation. Your eye care costs can and should be combined with all other qualifying medical expenses to maximise your total refund. Think of it as one comprehensive medical expense claim rather than individual small claims:
- GP visit costs – Every time you visit the doctor
- Dental expenses – Check-ups, fillings, orthodontics
- Physiotherapy treatments – Injury rehabilitation and chronic pain management
- Prescription medications – All prescribed medicines and treatments
- Hospital and consultant fees – Any private medical care
When our specialists review your tax history, we check for ALL medical expenses you may have missed—not just optical costs. This comprehensive approach often uncovers additional refunds that clients didn't know they were owed. It's not uncommon for someone who came to us about eye care relief to end up with a much larger refund covering years of medical expenses.
What Doesn't Qualify for Relief?
Not all eye-related purchases attract tax relief. Revenue specifically excludes certain items that are considered lifestyle choices rather than medical necessities:
❌ Non-Qualifying Items:
- Non-prescription sunglasses – Even designer or high-quality ones
- Fashion frames without corrective lenses – Purely cosmetic eyewear
- Blue light blocking glasses – Unless specifically prescribed for a medical condition
- Reading glasses bought over-the-counter – Must be prescribed to qualify
- Cosmetic procedures – Eye treatments with no medical purpose
If you're unsure whether a particular expense qualifies, our team can advise. The general rule is that if it was prescribed by a registered optometrist or ophthalmologist for a medical reason, it's likely to qualify. If you bought it yourself without a prescription, it probably won't.
Claim Your Eye Care Tax Relief Today
Our specialists will review your full tax history and claim ALL medical expenses you're entitled to—not just optical costs.
Start Your Free Review →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim for glasses bought at online retailers?
Yes, as long as the glasses were prescribed by a registered optometrist and you have proof of the prescription and payment. The prescription must be issued by a qualified practitioner before the purchase. Keep your prescription and the online order confirmation as proof.
Do I need a medical card to claim optical tax relief?
No, the medical card scheme is completely separate from tax relief. Anyone who pays tax can claim relief on qualifying optical expenses, regardless of whether they have a medical card. The two schemes operate independently.
Can I claim for my children's eye care?
Absolutely. You can claim tax relief on medical expenses for dependent children, including their eye tests, glasses, and contact lenses. This can add significantly to your total claim if you have children who need corrective lenses.
Is laser eye surgery tax deductible?
Yes, LASIK and other corrective laser eye surgery qualifies for 20% tax relief as it's considered a medical procedure to correct a vision problem. Given the high cost of these procedures (often €3,000+), this can result in refunds of €600 or more.
How far back can I claim?
You can backdate optical expense claims for up to 4 years. If you haven't claimed before, our team can review your entire eligible period and claim for all previous years in one comprehensive submission.
Why Use MyTaxRebate.ie?
While you can claim optical expenses yourself through Revenue's myAccount system, many people miss out on additional refunds they're entitled to because they don't know what else qualifies or don't have time to navigate the system properly. When you work with MyTaxRebate.ie:
- We review ALL tax credits – Not just medical expenses, but rent relief, flat rate expenses, and every other relief you may qualify for
- We handle everything – No need to navigate complex Revenue systems yourself or figure out which forms to submit
- We check 4 full years – Ensuring you don't miss out on any backdated claims that could be adding to your refund
- No refund, no fee – You only pay our fee if we successfully find money you're owed
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