Study examines free eye care in Scotland

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen have been awarded a £43,034 grant to examine the success of offering eye care services free in Scotland.

The economists, led by Dr Alexandros Zangelidis, will investigate the success of the policy, introduced in April 2006, which aimed to encourage wider use of optometry services and to ensure that the majority of the population benefited from regular eye examinations as well as reducing waiting times for referrals to the hospital eye service.

The year-long project, funded by the Chief Scientist Office, aims to establish the degree to which the objectives have been met and examine people's response as eye care patients and consumers. Researchers will explore whether more people have their eyes examined now, whether those from certain socioeconomic groups responded more and if patients' spending on eye care goods changed.