Improving eye care with policy reform

Description of impact

Led by Dr Alexandros Zangelidis, a team of researchers from the University of Aberdeen initiated a project to examine the success of the free eye care policy and to identify if more people chose to have their eyes tested. Funded by the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office, the year-long project aimed to establish if the objectives of the policy had been met and if free eye examinations led to wider health care benefits across all socioeconomic groups.

Project summary and aims

Regular eye examinations are important for checking our sight and eye health, but they can also play a key role in detecting underlying conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and thyroid disease. For many years, those living in Scotland had to pay for eye exams at a private optometrist, but this often meant that people would avoid having their eyes tested.

Outcomes to Date / Future Developments

Impact status	Impact Completed (Open)
Impact date	2012