HC Deb 23 May 1995 vol 260 cc519-20W
Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps her Department is taking to inform(a) people of Afro-Caribbean origin, (b) diabetics and (c) individuals aged over 40 years with a family history of glaucoma of the increased risks that they face of developing glaucoma; [25029]

(2) what steps her Department is taking to inform blood relatives of glaucoma sufferers of the availability of free glaucoma checks after they reach the age of 40 years. [25030]

Mr. Sackville

All close relatives aged 40 and over— parents, brothers and sisters, and children—of diagnosed glaucoma sufferers are entitled to free national health service sight tests. All optometrists are required to display in their practices a notice advising of the services available under the general ophthalmic services. Information about glaucoma, and the groups most at risk from it, is also available from the International Glaucoma Association. It would not be appropriate to disclose information about a person's health to third parties.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistical evidence she has on whether improvements in the early detection of glaucoma have occurred in the last five years. [25031]

Mr. Sackville

There is no centrally collected statistical data on prevalence of glaucoma.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to ensure that uneven standards in testing for glaucoma are minimised. [25032]

Mr. Sackville

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 evidence which would lead us to believe that standards of sight testing are uneven.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration her Department has given to widening the availability of free eye tests to all groups that face a significantly higher than average risk of developing glaucoma. [25036]

Mr. Malone

Close relatives—parents, children, brothers and sisters—aged 40 or over of diagnosed glaucoma sufferers are already eligible for free sight tests. We have no plans to alter these categories.