Rise in number of tests

Increases in the number of NHS sight tests carried out in England and Wales for the year ending March 31 2010 have seen the total number of tests undertaken in both countries rise by over half a million compared to the previous year.

In a report of NHS ophthalmic activity provided through the General Ophthalmic Services in England and Wales for 2009/10, the number of sight tests in England increased by 533,000 or 4.7 per cent on the previous year to 11.8 million. This equated to 22,959 sight tests per 100,000 of the population and 1,216 tests per optometrist. The number of optical vouchers processed in England also increased, by 282,000 or 6.8 per cent to 4.4 million.