Demand for NHS eye examinations has increased by 3.6 per cent in England according to latest figures.
A total of 12.787 million patients received NHS sight tests last year, reported Optics at a Glance, the 34th edition of the market report based on data collected by the Optical Confederation.
NHS eye exams were taken up by 1.8 per cent more patients in Northern Ireland and grew 5.7 per cent in Scotland, but Wales saw a decrease of 1.2 per cent during 2014.
As Optics at a Glance stated, free NHS eye examinations are available to all in Scotland, and with higher fees paid to contractors, but restricted to certain categories in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Clinical adviser for the College of Optometrists Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, said: ‘It’s impossible to say what’s driving these figures – whether it’s a greater awareness of eye health or a growing and ageing population but, either way, it demonstrates that more people are prioritising eye care and that’s hugely encouraging.’
For the UK as a whole, total eye tests increased 6 per cent to 22.54 million in 2014, including 16 million NHS sight tests and 6.5 million private eye appointments. Referrals to GPs and hospitals increased by 3.6 per cent compared with the prior year when referrals had fallen from 5 per cent to 2.9 per cent.
A survey of Optical Confederation members found the average charge to patients for a private sight test, excluding ‘no-charge’, discounts and special offers, had increased to £26. ‘The average is less than half the actual cost of providing a sight test,’ the report added. ‘This reflects the market reality of spectacle sales subsidising the cost of both private and NHS sight tests, except in Scotland.’