Euro-MP calls for return of free eye tests for all

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th Sep 2002

Liz Lynne MEP, Rapporteur for the European Year of People with Disabilities, today called for the reintroduction of free eye tests and for a renewed emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment in the UK health system.

The MEP was speaking after sponsoring an event to raise awareness of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This relatively unknown condition is the leading cause of blindness amongst people over 50 in the Western World. Speaking from the European Parliament the MEP called for the reintroduction of free eye testing to be made available to all.

"Having listened to a number of experts and sufferers of this disease it is abundantly clear that the UK government needs to make serious changes to the way they deal with a number of healthcare issues, the first of which is to fundamentally alter the reactive mentality that pervades the NHS,” she said. “The system is so target based that the pressure on doctors to cut waiting lists means that simple preventative measures are ignored."

"The case of AMD illustrates this well. As with many diseases the sooner it is detected the more can be done to prevent its development and thus limit the damage it can cause. By bringing ourselves into line with much of Europe and restoring free eye tests, we can often catch this disease before serious vision loss occurs. Eye tests can also give early indications of the presence of a number of other diseases including diabetes.”"

"Referring specifically to AMD, the MEP remarked on the widespread ignorance surrounding this disease. "A British sufferer told me that they were forced to wait for weeks until even the most basic care was made available to her. To be told that you will lose your eyesight is bad enough but having to face this with little or no support from outside can be very stressful for both the sufferer and the family alike. We all have a role to play in ensuring that ignorance does not cause unnecessary suffering."