Primary Eye Care  (Opticians)

Everyone should have their eyes checked regularly.

Regular sight tests are important, not only to test sight but also to detect diseases such as glaucoma, diabetes and cataracts or other abnormalities of the eye and of the body in general.

Primary Eye Care is provided in the community by optometrists­ and dispensing opticians and their staff. This care is made available to Walsall as a result of General Ophthalmic Services contracts within the framework created by the National Health Service Act 2006. The framework comprises three levels of service contracts, which are referred to as mandatory, additional and enhanced.

Mandatory services are the sight testing service when carried out at a practice. NHS Walsall provides this service through local optometrists who will provide NHS funded sight tests from a practice. A list of all the practices that provide this service may be found here.

Additional services - the only additional service that has been prescribed in regulations is mobile services i.e.

provision of NHS funded sight tests at day centres, residential care homes and individuals’ own homes (see definitions above and the regulations). However, whilst some providers of additional services may also be providers of mandatory services, this is not a requirement. It is entirely in order to be a provider of additional services without being a provider of mandatory services (and vice versa).  A list of all the practices that provide this service may be found here.

Enhanced services are any other primary ophthalmic services commissioned at the discretion of NHS Walsall to meet what we consider to be necessary primary ophthalmic services in Walsall.

Currently there are no enhanced locally negotiated services; however there may be pilot schemes running from time to time in your area.

Who provides Primary Eye Care Services?

Optometrists - also called ophthalmic opticians - examine eyes, tests sight and prescribe spectacles or contact lenses for those who need them. They also fit spectacles or contact lenses, give advice on visual problems and detect any ocular disease or abnormality, referring the patient to a medical practitioner if necessary. Optometrists may also share the care of patients who have chronic ophthalmic conditions with a medical practitioner. Once qualified, optometrists can undertake further training to specialise in certain eye treatment by therapeutic drugs.

Dispensing opticians - advise on, fit and supply the most appropriate spectacles after taking account of each patient’s visual, lifestyle and vocational needs. Dispensing opticians also play an important role in advising and dispensing low vision aids to those who are partially sighted and in advising on and dispensing to children where appropriate. They are also able to fit and provide aftercare for contact lenses after undergoing further specialist training.  (Futher information regarding specialist training here). On completion, practitioners are placed onto a specialty register. Career opportunities also exist to develop business skills in marketing and practice management.