Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of providing subsidies to patients with severe eye prescription glasses.

National Health Service optical vouchers to help with the cost of glasses or contact lenses are available for eligible groups, including children and people on income-related benefits, and through the NHS low-income scheme. There are ten optical vouchers ranging from £42.40 to £233.56, depending on the strength of the optical lenses. Help is also available through the NHS complex lens voucher, for any individuals prescribed complex lenses, provided they meet the clinical criteria. The cost of glasses will be set by individual optical practices, and because prices can vary, we would always advise that individuals shop around.