Better Eye-care for All

Capacity Problem

• 32,832 were awaiting eye-care appointments at the end of December 2023, and 8,678 people were awaiting eye procedures – among largest of any medical speciality.
• Between 2020 and 2022 the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) eye-care costs increased from €10.5m to €21.7m and HSE Cross Border Healthcare Directive eye-care cases increased from 878 in 2021 to 2,855 in 2023. Outsourcing of eye-care should stop and domestic capacity should be grown.

• Demand for eye-care will continue to increase significantly as our population increases and ages and over reliance on Hospitals and Clinics will never have capacity to meet this growing demand.

• Conditions not being detected or detected late, giving worse prognoses and reduced quality of life to patients.