Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to reduce inequalities in eye care for adults with learning disabilities.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning National Health Service sight testing services to meet the local need, which could include commissioning adapted sight testing services to meet the needs of adults with learning disabilities. People over the age of 14 years old with a learning disability are entitled to a general practice led annual health check, to maintain their health. This can help identify undetected health conditions early, including problems with vision.

All children under the age of 16 years old, and those under the age of 19 years old in full time education, as well as adults aged 60 years old or over, are entitled to an NHS sight test. Those on a low income, and defined categories of people at particular risk of developing eye disease are also entitled to free tests. Sight tests will also be made available to all children attending special day and residential schools during 2024/25.

For adults, although having a learning disability does not provide exemption grounds, we would expect those with severe learning disabilities would meet the eligibility criteria in other ways. We therefore do not believe there is a need to extend eligibility further.