End to free eye exams could save up to £93m

Details emerging from the report of Scotland's Independent Budget Review Panel make the end of free eye examinations in Scotland a likely outcome.

The report, commissioned by ministers, suggests that introducing charges of between £20 and £40 for an NHS eye examination for non-exempt categories of people could generate savings of between £46m and £93m.

Suggesting that the Scottish government consider immediate action to review eligibility for NHS eye examinations, the report revealed that since their introduction in 2006 costs have increased from £18m in 2005-06 to £67m in 2009-10. Annual take up in those four years has almost doubled from one million to 1.8 million and tests account for approximately 75 per cent of Scotland's annual General Ophthalmic Services budget.