Concierge ophthalmology · London
Low vision assessment, optometry-led functional vision review and personalised aid prescription.
A low vision assessment characterises functional vision — visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual field and reading ability — and prescribes personalised optical, electronic and lifestyle aids for macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and other sight-limiting conditions.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right hands
We route you to a specialist low-vision optometrist working alongside consultant ophthalmology — the people who see this every day.
- 02
A plan you can use
You leave with a personalised aid prescription, a home-adaptation list and clear next steps — not just a report.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Key facts
Low vision assessment in six lines.
What a low vision assessment is, who leads it, and what you walk out with.
-
Structured functional vision assessment
A definition-led review of daily-living vision and a rehabilitation plan — not just a spectacle test.
-
Optometry-led with MDT input
Led by a specialist low-vision optometrist, with ophthalmology and occupational therapy input where needed.
-
Registers CVI where eligible
Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) completed when criteria are met — the gateway to statutory support.
-
Prescribes glasses, magnifiers, CCTV, apps
A personalised prescription across optical, electronic and app-based aids.
-
Lifestyle adaptations and support signposting
Practical home-and-work adaptations, and signposting to RNIB and local sensory-support teams.
-
Multi-disciplinary approach
One coordinated pathway across optometry, ophthalmology, OT and the third sector.
Indicative pricing
What a private low vision assessment costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A standard low vision assessment in our network: £220–£380, with a plan at the same visit.
| Assessment type | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low vision assessment (standard) | £220–£380 | 60 min | Same visit |
| Extended low vision + OT home assessment | £450–£800 | 2 visits | Within 1 week |
| Assessment + ophthalmology consultation | £500–£950 | 90 min | Same visit |
| Aids fitting and training session | £150–£280 | 45 min | Same visit |
| CCTV/electronic magnifier demonstration | £120–£240 | 45 min | Same visit |
| Follow-up review | £140–£240 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, whether an OT home visit is included, and whether a same-visit ophthalmology consultation is added. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A pair of glasses isn’t a rehabilitation plan.
When sight-limiting disease has been treated as far as it can be, the question shifts from cure to function — how you read, cook, cross a road and use a phone. That is what a low vision assessment answers.
-
Struggling to read despite new glasses?
We measure reading speed with candidate magnifiers and lighting — and prescribe the combination that works.
-
AMD, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy?
We map fields, contrast and central scotomas, and match aids to the disease pattern — not the diagnosis label.
-
Ready for CVI registration?
We assess eligibility and coordinate the paperwork with the ophthalmology team.
Preparation and pathway
From referral to plan — what happens, in order.
A single visit that combines assessment, aids trial and rehabilitation planning.
Phase 1 · Before your visit
Referral and history
Phase 2 · On the day
~60 minutes at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Plan in hand
- 01
Before
Referral from ophthalmology or self-book
Most patients are referred by their eye clinic; self-referral is welcomed. Bring recent letters and any current glasses.
- 02
Before
Detailed history of daily-living difficulties
What you struggle with — reading, faces, kitchen, stairs, screens, driving — shapes the whole assessment.
- 03
On the day
Distance and near visual acuity
Formal near and distance acuity, tested with the aids you already use and with trial prescriptions.
- 04
On the day
Contrast sensitivity testing
Because real-world vision is about contrast as much as sharpness — this is the number letter charts miss.
- 05
On the day
Visual field mapping (perimetry)
Central and peripheral field mapping — critical for glaucoma, AMD and post-stroke field loss.
- 06
On the day
Reading assessment
Reading fluency and speed at real print sizes, with candidate magnifiers and lighting.
- 07
After
Personalised aid prescription and plan
A written plan: prescription, aids, home adaptations, CVI status and onward support.
Typical end-to-end: 1 visit. Complex cases: 2 visits within a week.
What it shows
What a low vision assessment characterises.
Function, not just acuity — because how you use your remaining vision is what determines everyday independence.
-
Visual acuity (near / distance)
Formal measurement of near and distance acuity with and without current aids.
-
Contrast sensitivity
How well you distinguish shades — often the true bottleneck in AMD and cataract.
-
Peripheral field loss (glaucoma)
Perimetry for the tunnel-vision loss that glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa produce.
-
Central field loss (AMD)
Central scotomas and eccentric-viewing training for macular disease.
-
Reading fluency
Reading speed and endurance at real print sizes with candidate aids and lighting.
-
Aids prescription (magnifiers, CCTV, apps)
A personalised list — optical magnifiers, electronic CCTVs and smartphone accessibility tools.
-
CVI registration eligibility
Assessment against sight-impaired and severely sight-impaired thresholds.
-
Red flag: sudden vision loss — same-day ophthalmology
Sudden loss of vision is a same-day ophthalmology emergency, not a low-vision appointment.
Treatment options
What can follow a low vision assessment.
Every plan is personal — a mix of aids, medical treatment, adaptation and support.
-
Personalised aid prescription
A written prescription of optical magnifiers, electronic CCTVs, task lighting and accessibility apps.
-
Anti-VEGF referral for wet AMD
Rapid onward referral to a medical-retina consultant for intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy where indicated.
-
Diabetic retinopathy management
Coordination with diabetic eye services for laser, anti-VEGF and glycaemic optimisation.
-
CVI registration and support
Certificate of Vision Impairment completed where eligible — the gateway to statutory concessions and support.
-
Occupational therapy home visit
OT assessment of lighting, contrast, kitchen safety and stair marking in your own home.
-
Driving-restrictions advice
Clear guidance on DVLA notification requirements and safe-to-drive thresholds.
-
Charity signposting (RNIB)
Warm introduction to RNIB and local sensory-support teams for peer support and services.
-
Structured optometry follow-up
Scheduled review to reassess acuity, aids fit and daily-living function as the condition progresses.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Partners across central, north, west and south London. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
-
Specialist low-vision optometrists with hospital-service experience
-
Consultant ophthalmology on the same site for onward pathways
-
Occupational therapy input for home and workplace adaptation
-
Full inventory of optical and electronic aids on site for real-visit trials
Red flags
When it isn’t a low-vision appointment.
A low vision assessment is for stable, treated disease. These presentations need same-day ophthalmology or A&E, not a rehabilitation slot.
-
Sudden vision loss
Same-day ophthalmology or A&E — not a low-vision appointment. Painless sudden loss is emergent until proven otherwise.
-
Retinal detachment features
New floaters, flashes or a curtain across vision — same-day ophthalmology assessment.
-
Wet AMD (rapid distortion)
New or worsening central distortion needs urgent medical-retina review for anti-VEGF assessment.
-
Optic neuritis
Sub-acute vision loss with eye-movement pain — urgent neuro-ophthalmology referral.
-
Giant cell arteritis
Vision loss with scalp tenderness, jaw claudication or headache — emergency assessment and steroids.
-
Diabetic macular oedema
New blur in a patient with diabetes needs urgent diabetic-eye-service review.
-
Angle-closure glaucoma
Sudden painful red eye with halos and reduced vision — emergency ophthalmology.
-
Recent CVA with visual field defect
New homonymous field loss after stroke needs stroke-team review before low-vision rehabilitation.
-
Post-cataract surgery complications
Worsening vision, pain or redness after cataract surgery — same-day return to the operating surgeon.
Reading your report
The report is a plan you can act on. Four parts.
Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four sections.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your ophthalmologist and GP as well as for you.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Presenting concerns and daily-living difficulties
Your details, the eye condition, and the specific tasks you find hard — the anchor for everything that follows.
- 02 Findings
Acuity, contrast, fields and reading
The numbers: distance and near acuity, contrast sensitivity, perimetry summary and reading performance.
- 03 Aids
Personalised aids and adaptations
The specific optical, electronic and app-based aids prescribed, with lighting and home-adaptation advice.
- 04 Plan
CVI, onward referrals and follow-up
Registration status, onward referrals to medical retina, OT or RNIB, and the scheduled review date.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about low vision assessment.
Quick answers on who it’s for, aids, CVI registration, referral and what to do if sight suddenly changes.
-
What is a low vision assessment?
A structured, optometry-led review of functional vision — acuity, contrast, visual field and reading — that ends with a personalised prescription for optical, electronic and lifestyle aids. It is a rehabilitation appointment, not a spectacle test.
-
Who should have one?
Anyone whose sight limits daily life despite best-corrected glasses — most commonly patients with macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, hereditary retinal disease or post-stroke field loss.
-
Will I be registered as sight-impaired?
If your assessment meets the sight-impaired or severely sight-impaired thresholds, the ophthalmologist can complete a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI). Registration is the gateway to statutory concessions and local-authority support.
-
What aids might be prescribed?
Anything from high-add reading glasses, hand-held and stand magnifiers, task lighting and typoscopes, through to electronic CCTVs, portable video magnifiers and smartphone accessibility features and apps.
-
Do I need a referral?
Most low-vision services accept self-referral, and many patients come with an ophthalmology letter. We can arrange a fast-track private ophthalmology opinion if you would like the two combined.
-
What if my vision suddenly gets worse?
Sudden vision loss, new distortion in AMD or a curtain across vision is a same-day ophthalmology emergency — not a low-vision appointment. Go to A&E or your on-call ophthalmology service.
Sources
The guidance behind this page.
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Low vision guidance.
- College of Optometrists. Guidance for professional practice — low vision.
- Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
- NICE. Age-related macular degeneration (NG82).
Reviewed by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board (). Published 2026-07-30. Next review 2027-07-30. Reading time: 6 minutes.
Related tests
Looking for a different test?
-
Astigmatism assessment
Formal refraction and astigmatism management.
Learn more -
Cataract surgery
The private cataract-surgery pathway explained.
Learn more -
Hearing loss assessment
Audiology assessment and hearing-aid pathway.
Learn more -
All tests
Browse every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more -
Cataracts
Related condition guide.
Learn more -
Glaucoma
Related condition guide.
Learn more -
Cornea Transplant
Related treatment option.
Learn more -
Corneal Crosslinking
Related treatment option.
Learn more
In practice, in London
Where low vision assessment sits in a private London pathway
With low vision assessment, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for low vision assessment is thorough, but the queue is real. Most patients we speak with have been told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London usually collapses that window to a matter of days — often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.
In practice, a private low vision assessment appointment in London means a named consultant, a proper hour in the room (or the equivalent on a video call), and a report you can actually read. Most of the imaging suites and endoscopy units we use sit within a mile of Harley Street or in Chelsea and Fulham, and turnaround on findings is measured in days, not weeks. For low vision assessment specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
The value of going through a concierge for low vision assessment isn’t access — anyone with an insurer or a credit card can get a private appointment in London. The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.