Some 49,000 people are on waiting lists for eye care in the public health system, new figures have revealed.

According to the figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), last month, 41,200 people were on outpatient waiting lists, while 7,800 people were waiting for inpatient eye procedures.

Among the 41,200 waiting for outpatient appointments, almost 19,000 had already been waiting at least one year, while 14,800 had been waiting for at least 18 months.

Responding to the figures, Optometry Ireland insisted that reform of the eye care system, which would allow patients to be seen quicker at less cost, is possible.

According to Optometry Ireland president, John Weldon, the eye health of many citizens “is being compromised due to ongoing and unacceptable delays”.

“As the HSE has to manage healthcare budgets with the additional pressures Covid-19 has created, there is an opportunity to address this through greater use of optometrists.

“Much of the resources needed to increase capacity in eye care is already in place in optometry. There are 300 practices and 700 practitioners across the country who are highly trained, have state of the art equipment and have capacity to provide more services,” he explained.

Mr Weldon insisted that it is less costly if people have their routine needs managed by an optometrist rather than by a hospital ophthalmology service. He pointed to the success of the Sligo Cataract Scheme in the north west, which involves a greater role played by optometrists. It has resulted in significantly reduced waiting times in that region.

He also noted that with approval from the HSE, optometrists could carry out greater prescribing to help with the care of chronic eye conditions in the community.

“Mr Weldon called on the Department of Health and the HSE to consider giving optometrists a bigger role. He pointed out that these professionals are utilised much more in other EU countries.

“The reform that we propose makes sense on every level. It can reduce waiting times, is cost-effective, makes services more accessible to patients and better uses a resource that is already in place,” he said.

Meanwhile, Optometry Ireland also welcomed ongoing developments in children’s eye care, which would see optometrists taking charge of routine State eye examinations and caring for children aged eight and over. This has already commenced in a number of regions and Optometry Ireland is calling for an urgent roll-out to all regions.

For more information on Optometry Ireland (formerly the Association of Optometrists Ireland), click here.