Public confidence in eye care rises, but inequalities persist, GOC reports

An increase in the public’s confidence in eye care services has been reported in the General Optical Council’s (GOC) new public perceptions research, although the regulator has highlighted that inequalities in patient access and experience persist.

Published earlier this week (30 June), the GOC’s 2026 public perceptions report found that 94% of respondents were confident they would receive a high standard of care from an optometry practice, which is up from 93% in 2025. Furthermore, overall satisfaction with visiting an optometry practice also increased to 89%, up from 87% in 2025.

The research, which is conducted annually by the regulator, explores the public’s views and experiences of using eye care services across the UK.

The report findings suggest that more people are accessing routine eye care, with the proportion of respondents who had an eye examination in the last two years increasing by 4% year-on-year, up from 80% in 2025 to 84% in 2026.

However, the survey also identified differences in eye care experiences between some demographics, with people who identified as facing multiple challenges, including disability, bereavement or low income, having lower confidence in eye care services (82%) when compared to those not facing such challenges (97%).

Additionally, the survey reported that people from ethnic minority backgrounds and those living in more deprived areas were also less likely to report positive experiences.

The report also details a difference in access to eye care, with 14% of respondents who face multiple challenges more likely to say that their last sight test was over five years ago, compared with an average of 7% overall.

Respondents who were unemployed or on an income of £20,000 or less were also less likely to have had a sight test in the last two years, while 20% of people living in the most deprived areas reported they had not had eye examination in the past two years.

The survey findings demonstrate that cost continues to be a barrier to accessing eye care, with 21% of respondents citing cost of spectacles or contact lenses as a concern, and 15% citing the cost of an eye examination.

Director of regulatory strategy at the GOC, Steve Brooker, said: “It is really encouraging that public confidence in the profession and patient satisfaction with overall experience both increased this year. That reflects the high standards we see across the profession.”

However, Brooker highlighted that the findings also show inequalities which “the sector needs to work hard to correct.”

On cost as a barrier to accessing eye care, Brooker highlighted the GOC’s thematic review into commercial practices, which is reviewing transparency of the price of examinations. He noted that the regulator will publish its findings later this year.