New prices

The Department of Health has announced the 2005 voucher values, effective from April 1.

The changes mean that single-vision lenses covered by voucher A, (spherical power of not more than six dioptres with a cylindrical power of not more than two dioptres) will rise from £32.10 to £32.90.

Other voucher value changes, available as new pocket cards from FODO and other optical bodies, include: Voucher B spectacles, of a spherical power of not more than six dioptres but less than 10 or more with a cylindrical power of not more than six dioptres, or of a spherical power of less than 10 with a cylindrical power of two to six dioptres, will rise from £48.80 to £50; Voucher C spectacles will go up from £71.30 to £73.10, and Voucher D spectacles from £161 to £165.

The 'Vouchers at a glance' publicity also includes GOS sight test intervals.