Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to prevent irreversible sight loss caused by glaucoma.

Regular sight tests play a crucial role in the early detection of glaucoma, which is often symptomless in the early stages. Free National Health Service sight tests are available for many, including individuals diagnosed with glaucoma or aged 40 years old and over with a close family history of glaucoma.

NHS England testing has shown how improved IT connectivity between primary and secondary eye care services and the development of a single point of access could improve the referral and triage of eye care patients, reducing the time from referral to treatment and supporting more patients to be managed in the community.

The Getting It Right First Time programme is also currently developing best practice guidance for glaucoma services to support the adoption of high standards across the pathway, from detection onwards.