First fall in NHS sight test numbers since records began

For the first time since records began the number of NHS sight tests in England has fallen along with the number of vouchers claimed for optical goods.

The yearly report, General Ophthalmic Services, activity statistics: England, for the year 2014-15 ending in March, showed that the number of sight tests fell by 23,000 or 0.2 per cent of the 12.8m total. This is the first time since the report was first complied, in 2002-3, that the figure has fallen. The drop is also in sharp contrast to last year’s rise of 448,177 or 3.6 per cent, on the previous year’s number of state-funded eye exams.