'First of its kind' Westminster exhibition calls for national policy for eye care

Last month, we joined members of The Eyes Have It (TEHI) partnership in hosting a first of its kind, week-long exhibition in the Houses of Parliament to raise awareness of the urgent need for dedicated national policy that can help us to collectively tackle the growing impact of poor eye health, prevent avoidable sight loss and address the postcode lottery of eye care services across the country.  

The exhibition, which was sponsored by Marsha de Cordova MP, Chair of the APPG on Eye Health and Vision Impairment, was launched at an opening ceremony on Monday 3 March and remained on display for a week in the Upper Waiting Hall of the Palace of Westminster. Speaking to MPs and representatives from the sector at the opening ceremony, Marsha de Cordova emphasised the growing impact of eye health conditions on the NHS and wider system, and with over two million people in the UK living with sight loss – a figure that is set to double by 2050 – the urgent need to make eye health care a priority across the wider health and social care agenda.i 

We were also delighted to have been joined by the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, who echoed Marsha de Cordova’s sentiments, and highlighted the value of working together across Government departments to drive meaningful improvements in eye care. He drew attention to the stark disparity in employment rates for those living with sight loss, highlighting how enhanced eye care services could not only improve health outcomes but also empower more individuals to remain in or re-enter the workforce — a key objective for this Government. 

Parliamentarians had the opportunity to engage with the exhibition throughout the week, learning about the impact of sight loss in their own constituencies. Using TEHI’s ‘Polimapper’ data tool, MPs explored data on the impact of sight loss on their constituents and local health system, giving them a clearer picture of its wide-ranging effects. A powerful map displayed at the exhibition also showcased how health systems across the UK are performing against waiting time targets. This highlighted concerning disparities in performance and how quickly patients can access essential care and reinforces the urgent need for policy reform to reduce waiting times and ensure patients receive timely care. This is especially critical given that a significant proportion of cases of sight loss are avoidable with appropriate intervention. 

MPs also had the chance to experience the realities of living with different eye health conditions using the RNIB ‘Eyeware’ App, which simulates conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. 

We were encouraged to see that the exhibition garnered a significant level of engagement from Parliamentarians across the political spectrum, with dozens of MPs and Peers stopping to learn about the impact of sight loss within their local area. Attendees included Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who spent time learning about the exhibition and the objectives of the partnership. 

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue working alongside Marsha de Cordova, Government and our Parliamentary champions to ensure that eye health is appropriately prioritised within NHS policy, collectively supporting our goal to achieve the best eye care possible for all those who need it and consigning avoidable sight loss to history. 
 
Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of the Association of Optometrists said: “It was a privilege to join our partners in The Eyes Have It to collectively raise awareness about eye care, eye health and sight loss in Westminster. The event was a vital opportunity to engage with as many MPs as possible ahead of the publication of the 10-Year Plan for Health. We need eye health policy that delivers timely, accessible, and effective care that works for patients. It is really encouraging that everyone we spoke to – including the Secretary of State – recognised the policy challenges, and were engaged in our solutions. This includes the need for a transformed and integrated primary eye care service. Ending the postcode lottery in eye care, and cutting the numbers of patients who experience avoidable sight loss as a result of these delays, must become a reality.”    

Eleanor Southwood MBE, Director of Social Impact at Fight for Sight said: “What drives us is the individual stories of the 2 million people personally impacted by vision loss in the UK. We were proud to have the opportunity to share two of these stories through our involvement in this exhibition. Joe Pepper and Paula Long are both ambassadors for Fight for Sight. Their stories underscore the postcode lottery of services. Paula, for example, had to wait for a diagnosis of Glaucoma. The artist is determined to keep painting for as long as she can. Their optimism inspires our work to Save Sight. Change Lives.” 

Ali Rivett, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists said: “It has been fantastic to again come together with the eye care sector to highlight to Parliamentarians the urgent need to prioritise improving eye care services. We must properly invest in NHS ophthalmology estates and the workforce if we are to tackle long backlogs. We also need to solve the IT blockers between optometry and ophthalmology, which will enable more routine care to be delivered in the community.” 

Matt Stringer Chief Executive of Royal National Institute of Blind People, said: “We were delighted to join our partners in The Eyes Have It (TEHI) partnership as part of this week-long exhibition in the Houses of Parliament to raise awareness of the need for urgent national action to protect eye health and stop avoidable sight loss. Eye care services, as they currently operate, cannot keep pace with growing demand. It’s vital we take action now to ensure they are as effective and efficient as possible.” 

Ed Holloway, Chief Executive of the Macular Society, said: "We were proud to be part of this first-of-its-kind exhibition in Parliament, highlighting the urgent need for a dedicated national policy on eye health. Macular disease is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK and more than 300 people are diagnosed every day. Too many people with macular disease are facing irreversible sight loss due to devastating delays in diagnosis and treatment. Urgent action is needed. This event was a great opportunity to push for eye health to be a priority across the wider health and social care agenda, to ensure people get the timely care they need."  

The Eyes Have It is a partnership of the Macular Society, Fight for Sight, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Association of Optometrists, Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Roche Products Ltd. Roche has funded the activities of the partnership. 

References

1. RNIB. Key statistics about sight loss. Accessed April 2025