Thousands from Tipperary are waiting over a year for eye treatments

Long delays in eye treatment care has become the norm in Ireland, with people in need of treatment from Tipperary now facing a twelve month plus delay to obtain essential treatment.

HSE data obtained by FODO Ireland (community optometrists) show that in April, a total of 777 South Tipperary patients and 147 North Tipperary and East Limerick patients, were waiting for over a year for eye treatments.

There were 392 North Tipperary and East Limerick patients overall on the eye treatments waiting list while in South Tipperary, there were 1,827 patients on the waiting list.

Community optometrists are delivering core eye care services, through the State’s Community Optometry Services Scheme and now Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said they have the potential to play an even greater role.

 As it stands, there is a ‘postcode lottery’ created due to disparate local eye-care schemes. In addition to this, there is currently not an effective national screening system for national school children. Optometrists can and must be involved in providing eye care for school children for instance if things are to change.  

The hope is that the current situation can be changed. For more details contact https://www.fodoireland.ie/about-us