Eye care sector must show support for glaucoma care bill, Specsavers says

Optometrists are integral in the success of a bill that would widen the scope of glaucoma care in the community, Specsavers has said.

Giles Edmonds, clinical services director at Specsavers, spoke in support of the Glaucoma Care: England Bill, which was presented to Parliament by Shockat Adam MP on 20 January.

The bill would compel integrated care boards, under the instruction of the Department of Health and Social Care, to commission a uniform glaucoma service nationally.

Edmonds said: “We welcome these proposals for a national commissioning framework for community glaucoma services in England.”

He emphasised: “Community optometry is part of the solution to address growing patient need when it comes to both detecting and monitoring glaucoma.”

Edmonds added: “We are now urging the entire eye health sector to get behind this important initiative in Parliament to address patient need.”

The service would cover detection, treatment and monitoring of glaucoma, and would be delivered by qualified optometrists within communities across the country.

A national glaucoma service at primary care level would align with the Government’s neighbourhood health agenda, as identified in the 10-Year Health Plan.

Adam, a practising optometrist, was elected to Parliament in 2024 to represent Leicester South. He is an optometry practice owner in Leicester.

After presenting the bill, Adam emphasised to OT that “the prevalence of glaucoma is higher than we previously thought.”

He added: “This bill provides a timely opportunity to begin to tackle the glaucoma challenge and save the sight of thousands of patients.”

Edmonds noted that “Specsavers’ expert optometrists and their teams are ready and able to do more to take on this condition, which is known as the silent thief of sight.”

“We also continue to engage positively with colleagues across the eye health sector as well as policy makers on eye health, because together we can make positive change,” he said.