Deprived Welsh areas offer most eye care schemes, finds report

The majority of community eye care schemes in Wales are being provided in areas of high deprivation, according to a latest community healthcare report.

Of the 318 practices providing community eye health services in Wales, more than half were found to be in the highest areas of deprivation in the report entitled The Distribution and Workload of Community Ophthalmic Practices.

Peter Garwood, optometric lead for Public Health Wales, said: ‘Fifty per cent of sight loss is avoidable with early detection and treatment. We are pleased that this evaluation report shows that not only is eye health a top priority in Wales but also that high quality eye care is being offered in the right places to the right people. This is particularly important as evidence shows that there is a link between deprivation and sight loss.