Eligible South Australians may obtain reduced cost spectacles or contact lenses through the Government’s Spectacles Scheme.
Eligibility
You may be eligible for assistance through the Scheme if you:
- are a South Australian resident
- hold a Pensioner Concession Card, or have held a Health Care Card continuously for at least 12 months.
Under this scheme, once every two years, you and each listed dependant is entitled to either:
- a pair of reading glasses and a pair of distance vision glasses; or
- a pair of bifocal glasses.
While the Scheme only covers basic spectacle frames, you may elect to upgrade your frames or lenses at your own cost. For a limited number of prescribed eye conditions, where clinically justified, the Scheme provides assistance to reduce the cost of contact lenses.
If your optometrist certifies that your vision has changed significantly, you may be eligible for additional lenses within a two year period.
How to apply
Apply through a participating optometrist or ophthalmologist (eye specialist)
Most optometrists in South Australia participate in the Scheme. If you are eligible for a subsidy through the Scheme, you will be billed the reduced amount for your spectacles by your optometrist.
For more information
Download the leaflet for more information about the Spectacle Scheme.
For more information telephone the Spectacles Scheme Hotline during business hours on 1 300 762 577. Email enquiries can be made to DCSISpectaclesAdelaide@DCSI.sa.gov.au.
If you have a hearing or speech impairment, please use our text telephone service on TTY: 8226 6789.
Interpreting and Translation Service
Phone OnCall: (08) 8410 5111 or (08) 8212 9377
Are you eligible for other types of concessions?
Use our Concessions Finder tool to find out about other concessions for which you may be eligible and how to apply.