Optometrists must be paid fair fees

• There are 700 Community Optometrists in 350 locations in every corner of the country) who provide primary eyecare.
• Almost all of the adult population has access to ‘free’ eyecare under either the HSE (medical card holders) or DSP (PRSI contributions benefit).
• Yet less than 1% of the primary eyecare budget is spent on community Optometry services.
• The HSE eye exam fee paid to Optometrists is a paltry €22.51 and Department of Social Protection is €30. Both schemes are no longer viable due to gross underfunding.
• The current break even cost of providing a modern eye examination is €96.
• A meaningful increase is needed to both the HSE and DSP payments to Optometrists to sustain and develop their role in public eyecare – and parity must be established across both schemes.