Scottish minister backs universal eye exams

Scottish minister for public health Michael Matheson offered continued support of the universal eye examination in the country at the Scottish Vision Strategy conference earlier this month.

Matheson told Optician there were no plans to end free NHS eye examinations in Scotland. 'Take up of the free eye examination continues to grow, showing that people in Scotland are taking on board the message on the importance of maintaining good eye health care and making good use of the services in place,' he said.

'The delivery of free eye care services recognises the vital importance of regular eye examinations to overall health, with the free eye examinations going beyond sight testing for glasses, and providing a general health check which can detect sight-threatening and treatable conditions which might otherwise be undetected.'