Profession welcomes eye health indicator

Homepage image credit Rex Features.

Optical bodies have praised the government's decision to make eye health part of its Public Health Outcomes Framework.

The inclusion of an eye health indicator in the framework was commended by UK Vision Strategy, the Optical Confederation, the College of Optometrists and the Local Optical Committee Support Unit.

Three major causes of sight loss will be tracked by the indicator, comprising glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy.

Speaking on behalf of the Optical Confederation, David Hewlett said: 'We have been stressing the priority of eye health through the UK Vision Strategy Partnership for some years now as well as highlighting the vital role that the nation's optometrists and dispensing opticians play, with hospital colleagues, in improving sight and preventing visual impairment through early detection and treatment.