§ Joan WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in re-evaluating the funding status of plano lenses under the national health service for(a) children and (b) adults. [140482]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonPlano tinted lenses may be prescribed by the hospital eye service for patients who have a recognised clinical need for them.
Although there are indications that some children and adults with reading difficulties may benefit from tinted lenses, these need to be provided as part of a proper scheme of assessment and treatment or many people could receive them unnecessarily. There is a risk otherwise that more appropriate responses to their needs could be delayed while time is taken up investigating tinted lenses.
Currently, plano tinted lenses are not available under the general ophthalmic services and there are no plans for this to change.
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