The General Optical Council regulates eye care services in the UK. Our role is to make sure the public is protected when going to their opticians for a sight test, buying eyewear and for help with managing eye health conditions. We do this by making sure that the healthcare professionals who provide these services, called optometrists and dispensing opticians, are well trained and deliver high standards of care. We also regulate some of the businesses which provide these services.

Our surveys show most patients were satisfied with the care they received at their last optician’s visit. This is great news, but they also show that some groups of people are less satisfied, including people who are vulnerable for different reasons, such as those with disabilities. Also, that some groups of people are less likely to go for a sight test. 

To understand why this happens and support professionals and businesses to provide a better service, we spoke to people in vulnerable circumstances about their experiences. We found:

• People didn’t know how often they should go for sight tests and why this is important to maintain good vision and eye health.
   
• People put up with symptoms like headaches and eye strain rather than go for a sight test. Some tried to manage vision problems themselves by buying off the shelf glasses rather than getting a prescription.
   
• Things like being in a shop, being seen by different people, waiting a long time to be seen and trying on glasses in front of others were also worries.
   
• The cost of the sight test and eyewear can put people off visiting the opticians. People also worried about being put under pressure to buy eyewear and didn’t know they might be able to get financial help under the NHS.

SeeAbility’s work with people with learning disabilities has helped raise awareness about the needs of this patient group. We know that adults and children with learning disabilities are far more likely to have a serious sight problem than other people, making regular sight tests extremely important. And that they may need extra support to ensure a successful sight test, such as more time or different equipment.

We are grateful to SeeAbility for putting us in touch with people with learning disabilities who took part in our research. Insights included the challenges of identifying people who have hidden vulnerabilities, how strange surroundings can cause distress, the importance of being seen promptly on arrival, and the importance of using the right specialist techniques for those unable to do a traditional test. The research also reveals the importance of carers and advocates in working with healthcare professionals to design accessible vision tests that cater for each patient’s specific needs. 

Ultimately, the research shows that getting it right can mean a life-changing diagnosis for people that historically have been unable to engage with eye care services.

Read the research report.

Opportunity to have your say

At the start of 2025, we updated our standards of practice to support the professionals and businesses we regulate to provide safe and effective care for people in a wide range of vulnerable circumstances. 

We are currently consulting on draft guidance which aims to help them to put these standards into practice. 

To have your say on whether we have got the guidance right, please respond to the consultation by Friday 17 October.