Views from the public and experiences of optical practices in the UK have been published in the General Optical Council’s 2022 public receptions research.
The GOC found that public satisfaction with optometrists who carried out a sight test was high with 94% of respondents who had been for a sight test in the past two years saying they were satisfied during their visit. However, this was a slight fall from 96% as recorded in 2019 and 2021. Satisfaction levels with the overall experience were also 94%, down from 96% in 2021 but in line with 2019’s figure.
On average in the UK, 34% said they would go to an optical practice first if they woke up with an eye problem, which the GOC said was an all time high and in line with GPs (35%). This increased by 4% compared to last year. This was considerably higher than pharmacists (9%), eye hospitals (6%) or A&E (6%).
However, there was variation between the nations with Scotland on 51%, 45% in Northern Ireland, 42% in Wales and 27% in England. The GOC also found this was higher among existing patients (39%) than non-patients (22%) and non-patients were more likely to go to a GP (41%) than an optical practice.
The most common reason given by non-patients was that they might not be seen on the same day (28%), because they might have to pay for treatment (18%) and because they believed the optical practice would not be able to treat their problem (17%). Additionally, 9% said an optical practice would not be able to prescribe the right medication to treat their problem.
Growing confidence
Steve Brooker, director of regulatory strategy at the GOC, said: ‘We are delighted that public confidence and satisfaction in the profession remains high, especially after a particularly challenging couple of years. We want to thank our registrants for their continued hard work and dedication to the profession and for delivering high-quality eye care to the public.
‘It is notable that just as many people with an emergency eye problem would now seek initial care from an optician as a GP. It is encouraging to see the public recognise the ability of registrants to meet a wider range of patient needs, although clearly, for now, the picture is different across the UK.
‘We hope to continue seeing high public satisfaction being maintained and encourage registrants to use the insights from this research to help deliver high-quality optical care services.’
There was confidence among the public in optometrists (93%) and dispensing opticians (86%), which was comparable to other primary care roles, including pharmacists (89%), dentists (87%) and GPs (84%). Of those surveyed, 74% had a sight test in the past two years and that had not changed from last year. There were minimal variations between the nations, the GOC noted.
The GOC found an increase of 3% in the incidence of something going wrong with care or service received by patients at optical practices since 2021, from 10% to 13% in 2022. The proportion of patients who received an apology rose from 42% to 58%, which the GOC said indicated that the Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians were increasingly being upheld.
Remote interest
Survey respondents (42%) said they would consider undertaking their sight test or eye examination remotely with 52% likely to choose a service where a computer diagnosed an eye condition, such as glaucoma, without the involvement of an optometrist. The GOC noted the option was particularly well received by patients who had experienced difficulties during their visit to an optical practice.
Some respondents (20%) said they did not know if they would use this type of service, which the GOC said meant greater education on how these services work was necessary. The main barriers to considering a remote sight test using advanced technology included concerns about safety (46%) and preferring to see someone face-to-face (45%).
The public were also satisfied (87%) with protections put in place during their visit to an optical practice to protect them from Covid-19.
The GOC commissioned MEL Research to carry out the research, which received 2,236 responses online between January and March. A total of 1,777 (79%) of respondents were either spectacles or contact lens wearers and 1,660 (74%) had been for a sight test in the past two years.
