HC Deb 02 December 2002 vol 395 c619W
Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of people over 60 have had sight tests in each year since 1999. [84029]

Mr. Lammy

The table shows the number of national health service sight tests paid for in England for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2002.

General Ophthalmic Services: number of NHS sight test paid for by Health authorities in England for patients aged 60 and over
Year Total number of sight tests (million)
1999–2000 3.3
2000–01 3.8
2001–02 4.0

Information on the number of people having NHS sight tests is not collected centrally. The number of sight tests can not be equated with the number of people as some groups are advised to have more than one sight test in a year.