Irish optometrists call for community eye care support

Optometrists in Ireland have rallied for election groupings and candidates to support community-based services to improve eye health in the country.

In a General Election 2016 manifesto launched this week, The Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI) stressed that 75 per cent of eye disease was preventable through regular eye examinations.

AOI chief executive Peter Coleman said: ‘Increased eye care services in the community would reduce waiting times for hospital out-patient and treatment services. By providing more timely treatment, the level of vision impairment and blindness can be reduced. Investment in cost-effective community based eye-care interventions can save the State an estimated €76m in treatment costs.’