Glaucoma (Hansard, 5 July 1995)

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures are in place to monitor the success rate for the detection of glaucoma; and if she will make a statement; [32351]
(2) if she will make a statement as to what measures are planned to improve the detection rate of glaucoma. [32341]

§ Mr. Sackville
Although the Government recognise the importance of the early detection of glaucoma, this is primarily a matter for the medical and optometric professions. However, we are currently working with the relevant professional bodies to improve the quality of detection and referral of eye disease, including glaucoma.

§ Mr. Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has indicating whether there is a universal standard of testing for glaucoma by optometrists across the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [32353]

§ Mr. Malone
Screening for diseases of the eye, of which glaucoma is one, is part of the routine sight test procedure carried out by optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners. We have no reason to believe that standards of sight testing vary.

§ Mr. Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated for glaucoma, per family health service authority, for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [32350]

§ Mr. Sackville
Figures in the form requested are not available centrally.
From "Morbidity Statistics from General Practice" it is estimated that, in England, about 101,000 patients suffering from glaucoma were treated by general practitioners during the 1991–92 financial year. Figures are not available for the other years requested.
223W

§ Mr. Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that all people with a higher risk of developing glaucoma obtain all three available tests for the condition from an optometrist; and if she will make a statement. [32352]

§ Mr. Malone
Close relatives aged 40 or over of diagnosed glaucoma sufferers are automatically entitled to a free national health service sight test, to enable their eyesight to be monitored at no cost to themselves. The examination techniques used in carrying out a sight test are a matter for the clinical decision of the practitioner.