Lendus.

Optometry Equipment Finance

Spread the cost of optometry equipment from £5,000 to £80,000 with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a optometry equipment?

Yes, optometry equipments are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £5,000 to £80,000, and most deals are written over 12–72 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Typical Cost

£5k – £80k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Full fit-outs take slightly longer

Rates From

4.9% APR

What would a optometry equipment cost per month?

£30,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical optometry equipment price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Compare optometry equipment finance rates from 200+ lenders

Check Eligibility

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 4.9% APR
Term
12–72 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Practices wanting to own equipment outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 4.5% APR
Term
12–72 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 5.2% APR
Term
24–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Practices upgrading imaging technology regularly

Representative example

On a purchase price of £30,000: a 10% deposit of £3,000, then 48 monthly payments of £633 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £33,384, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Phoropter and slit lamp package £5,000 – £12,000 Refraction Suite
Topcon or Nidek auto refractor/keratometer £8,000 – £18,000 Auto Refractor
OCT (optical coherence tomography) scanner £25,000 – £55,000 OCT Scanner
Full test room fit-out (refraction, OCT, retinal imaging) £45,000 – £80,000 Full Test Room

Ready to compare optometry equipment finance? 2 minutes, no credit check.

Check Eligibility

Tax benefits

Equipment used wholly for the business qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting you deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to the current £1,000,000 AIA limit. Hire purchase lets you claim capital allowances as you own the asset from day one. Finance lease and operating lease rentals are treated as a revenue expense and are usually fully deductible against profits, which is why many practices prefer leasing for equipment that needs replacing on a fixed cycle.

Market context

Optometry equipment finance covers a wide range, from a basic refraction suite (phoropter and slit lamp) for an independent optician's first test room, to a full OCT scanner for practices offering enhanced eye health screening. OCT and retinal imaging technology has become a significant differentiator between practices, and many independents finance an OCT scanner specifically to compete with larger multiples on eye health services, while auto refractors and basic test room equipment tend to be replaced on a longer cycle.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

Compare rates from 200+ lenders, takes 2 minutes.

Check Eligibility

Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a full test room rather than individual instruments?
Yes, most lenders will finance a full refraction and imaging suite, phoropter, slit lamp, auto refractor and OCT, as one agreement, which is the common approach when fitting out a new test room or opening a new practice. Lenders will want to see the practice's recent trading history and a supplier quote for the specific equipment before confirming terms, which is standard for this kind of asset finance regardless of the equipment category.
Is an OCT scanner worth the cost for an independent optician?
Many independents finance an OCT scanner specifically to offer enhanced eye health screening and compete with larger optical multiples on clinical services rather than price alone. Whether it's worth it depends on your patient volume and local competition, which is worth discussing with your equipment supplier. Get a written quote from your equipment supplier covering the exact specification you need before applying, since the finance amount and the terms offered are set against the confirmed purchase price rather than an estimate.
What deposit is typical?
Hire purchase usually asks for 10–20% deposit; finance and operating leases often require none. Higher-value OCT purchases may see lenders ask for a deposit depending on trading history. Putting down more than the minimum deposit lowers the monthly repayment and can support a better headline rate, which is worth weighing against keeping cash in the business for working capital instead.
How quickly can I get approved?
Smaller test room equipment is often approved within 24-48 hours. A full test room fit-out including OCT may take a little longer while the lender reviews the complete project. Having a recent set of accounts, a supplier quote and the full equipment specification ready at the point of application tends to speed the decision up, since most of the time in any application goes on the lender confirming trading history and affordability.
Can newly qualified optometrists get finance to set up independently?
Yes, several lenders offer start-up packages for newly qualified optometrists opening an independent practice, though as with any new business you may be asked for a personal guarantee or a higher deposit than an established practice. As with any new business, the lender is likely to ask for a personal guarantee from the owner alongside the standard application, which is normal practice for a limited company with a short trading history rather than a sign of a weaker application.

Related equipment finance

More healthcare finance

See how lenders treat healthcare assets

Guides and resources

Ready to finance your optometry equipment?

Compare rates from 200+ lenders. No credit check.

Check Eligibility →
Check Eligibility, 2 min, no credit check