Summary

The objective of the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) is to provide (through high-street opticians' practices), preventative and corrective eye care for children, people aged 60 and over, people on low incomes, and those suffering from or pre-disposed to eye disease.

This report presents information about GOS activity in England and Wales from 1 April 2008 to 30 September 2008, as well as a time series from 1999/2000.

Key facts

In the six month period ending 30 September 2008:

England

• 5.641 million NHS sight test claims were processed. This was an increase of 118,000 (2 per cent) on the six month period ending 30 September 2007
• 2.079 million NHS optical voucher items were processed. This was an increase of 96,000 (5 per cent) on the six month period ending 30 September 2007
• 235,000 NHS voucher items for repair or replacement were processed. This was an increase of 5,000 (2 per cent) on the six month period ending 30 September 2007.

Wales

• 363,000 NHS sight test claims were processed. This was an increase of 14,000 (4 per cent) on the six month period ending 30 September 2007
• 135,000 NHS optical voucher items were processed. This was an increase of 6,000 (5 per cent) on the six month period ending 30 September 2007
• 14,000 NHS voucher items for repair or replacement were processed. This was an increase of 300 (2 per cent) on the six month period ending 30 September 2007.