Eye care costs
New research from Healthwatch England reveals costs of additional eye care services are likely to deter some people from visiting opticians altogether.
An estimated 50% of sight loss is avoidable. That’s why it’s vital that people can have their eyesight tested regularly and get the help they need if there is a problem. Yet new research from Healthwatch England found that costs associated with visiting opticians are deterring those on the lowest incomes from getting regular eye tests.
An online survey was carried out asking about people’s eye care experiences between July and September 2024. 14% of people who responded to the survey had avoided eye care due to cost in the last two years.
People who described themselves as ‘not at all comfortable financially’ were much more likely to say they avoided going to opticians than those who were financially very comfortable (39% vs 3%). Lack of awareness of the financial support available may also contribute to the high rate of people avoiding eye care.
Additional costs may put off patients
As people face rising eye care costs and lack of financial support, many high street opticians, which are private businesses, increasingly rely on generating income through offering services in addition to eye tests.
The survey found that of those who had attended an eye test in the last two years, 72% had experienced staff offering additional services at a cost. This practice has made some people reluctant to visit optician services at all. Those who said that opticians had offered them additional paid services were twice as likely to say they had avoided getting eye care in the last two years compared to those who had not experienced this.
84% of the respondents to the survey were eligible for free eye tests. However, as the results of the survey show, many people eligible for financial support for their eye care may find it difficult to afford additional costs. They may put off getting eye care because they are concerned about being pushed into paying for products or services they can’t afford.
Healthwatch England set out the following steps to protect people from the rising impact of eye care costs:
- The Department of Health and Social Care should review support for the costs of NHS eye care for those on the lowest incomes.
- The Government and the NHS should consider a targeted communications campaign through direct channels to low-income eye care patients.
- The primary eye care sector should have clear guidelines for how staff should assist those on lower incomes without affecting their confidence in seeking care.
If you would like to tell us about your experiences of accessing eye care, please get in touch.