New report from Healthwatch England warns long waits for eye care are having a huge impact on people’s daily lives

2.7 million people are expected to live with sight loss by 2030. Following feedback on long waits and high costs for care – and the evidence that eye care and related health issues disproportionately affect specific communities – in July 2024 Healthwatch England launched a national drive to learn about people’s eye care experiences. Results from their research have now been published.

Here in Surrey, we worked with local partners to promote the survey and to find out what the people of Surrey think; 61 residents responded to the national survey and talked to us about waiting times and the impact of waiting, the cost burden of eye tests and the issue of “upselling”.

You can find out more in our one pager – A strain on sight: waiting for NHS specialist eye care – Healthwatch Surrey and in our March Insight bulletin.

What do you think? Are you waiting for specialist eye care? Do you find the cost of tests prohibitive? We’d love to hear from you, so please get in touch.