§ 35. Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it is not open to opticians to prescribe plastic lenses on the National Health Service for the more powerful grades of lens.
§ Dr. VaughanA wide range of plastic bifocal, lenticular single vision, and lenticular bifocal lenses, are available through opticians under the general618W ophthalmic services to everyone who needs them. In addition, since December 1978 children and young people up to 18 years who need lenses in the power of six dioptres or more can be prescribed plastic single vision lenses.
Because plastic lenses are currently more expensive than glass lenses any extension of their availability would depend upon the resources available to the Health Services.