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Optometrists in Ireland Stopping of Glasses Scheme Criticised

broken-glasses

Older People in Ireland placed at risk due to Budget cut.

The budget decision to cease the free glasses scheme for older and retired persons places people at increased risk of car accidents and falls, Optometrists have said.

The Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI) said that from 1stJanuary 2010, only eye examinations will be provided under the Optical Benefit Scheme and the provision of glasses will be abolished.

AOI welcomed the retention of the eye examination, but expressed serious concerns about abolishing the provision of free glasses for qualified older and retired PRSI contributors.

AOI spokesperson Lynda McGivney Nolan said: "Almost every person over 50 years of age needs visual assistance due to the ageing process and other factors. Many retired persons do not qualify for medical cards, especially since their withdrawal as a right from those over 70 in late 2008. This does not mean, however, that they are well off but would have been more reliant on their Optical benefit to provide them with their spectacles.

"The risk is that, having had their spectacles paid for all of their lives that they will decline to update their prescriptions when they need to in order to ensure they are seeing properly, now that they have to pay for this update or change."

Studies indicate that in excess of 30,000 adults in Ireland are living with significant sight loss due to uncorrected refractive error, i.e. they have either no spectacles or require new ones. It is likely that this figure will increase, especially among those on restricted incomes many of whom are retired and elderly. Their lifestyle will be compromised and they will have increased risk of falls and other accidents as a direct result of impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error.

In particular, data from other countries indicates that many people drive cars without adequate vision or vision correction. We believe that this will become an increasing phenomenon in the future and may lead to more serious accidents, as a result of drivers getting behind the wheel without the correct glasses.

 

Ms. McGivney Nolan concluded: "AOI recognises the need for cutbacks in public spending and the difficult task the Minister has had in balancing these cutbacks, we would call upon the Minister to confirm that these cutbacks are temporary in nature, particularly as they most affect those who have paid into the scheme all through their working lives."

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