What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the role of community optometrists in diagnosing and treating glaucoma?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care | Answered on 21/07/2026
Community optometrists play an important role in detecting glaucoma. Appropriately qualified optometrists can refine referrals and monitor and manage patients in primary care. This early intervention, improves access to care and leads to fewer unnecessary hospital appointments, enabling ophthalmology services to focus on patients requiring specialist treatment.