Data hub

• 4,977,500 people live in Ireland. 2,512,000 females and 2,465,500 males [1]
• 720,000 people, 14.3% of the population, are aged 65 and over [1]
• By 2030 there will be 5,558,500 people and 18% will be aged 65 and over [2].

• There are an estimated 272,000 people with low vision and sight loss in Ireland [3]
• Amblyopia affects 4.5% of children in Ireland. Children are more likely to suffer permanent reduced vision due to amblyopia when compared to children living in Northern Ireland where there is universal access to primary eye care services for under 16s [4]
• In Ireland, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) accounts for 25% of registered blindness, glaucoma 8%, diabetic eye disease 4% and cataracts 2% [5]
• AMD has a prevalence rate of 5% increasing to 13% in adults aged 74 years and over [5]
• Glaucoma has a prevalence rate of 1% increasing to 7% in adults aged 74 years and over [5]
• 58% of people aged 74 and over are likely to have a cataract [5].

• The Central Statistics Office publishes data on HSE funded optical treatments. These show that the HSE funds about 700,000 treatments per year at an average cost of €38.78. The datasets also capture ophthalmic treatment codes and show that treatments for age-related macular degeneration increased by 6% between 2015 and 2017, with increases of 5% for cataracts and 9% for glaucoma for the same period [6]
• You can also use the Central Statistics Office database to access data on major optical conditions based on HSE reimbursement codes. These data can be filtered for AMD, cataracts, diabetic ophthalmic management and glaucoma across different areas and 2013 to 2015.
• The HSE hosts an open data source. It includes optical reports which cover monthly activity and expenditure and contractor reports which list the total number of contracts held.
• The DSP publishes access data in its annual reports.  In 2019, 452,311 optical treatments were provided under the Treatment Benefit Scheme, 82% of which were accessed by employed people and 18% by self-employed people [7].

In Ireland there are:

• 867 optometrists [8]. That is 17 per 100,000 residents
• 199 dispensing opticians [8]. That is 4 per 100,000 residents
• 140 ophthalmologists registered with the Irish College of Ophthalmologists [9]. That is 3 per 100,000 residents,
• 41 orthoptists [10]. That is 1 per 100,000 residents.

Members should contact us on [email protected] or call us on 01247 9972.

Originally published: November 2020

Reviewed: NA

Next review date: June 2022

The next review was originally planned for June 2021. This was changed due to prioritising work during the pandemic.

[1] Central Statistics Office, Population and Migration Estimates April 2020 https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/population/populationandmigrationestimates/

[2] Central Statistics Office, PEA22 Projected Population 2016 Based by Age, Sex, Criteria for Projection and Year (2016-2051), filter both sexes, 2030 and all ages, M1F1. https://statbank.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=PEA22&PLanguage=0

[3] 2017, HSE, Primary Care Eye Services Review Group Report, page 18, reports “it is estimated that there are currently 225,000 people with low vision and sight loss in Ireland. This is projected to increase by 21% to 272,000 from 2000 to 2020”.

[4] 2019, Harrington S, Breslin K, O’Dwyer V, et al. Comparison of amblyopia in schoolchildren in Ireland and Northern Ireland: a population-based observational cross-sectional analysis of a treatable childhood visual deficit BMJ open doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031066

[5] As cited in, 2017, HSE, Primary Care Eye Services Review Group Report

[6] 2019, CSO statistical release, HSE Funded Optical Treatments 2015-17

https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/hfot/hsefundedopticaltreatments2015-2017/

[7] 2020, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Report Required under Section 24 of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act 2019 on the Criteria to Qualify for Treatment Benefit, https://ptfs-oireachtas.s3.amazonaws.com/DriveH/AWData/Library3/Documents%20Laid/pdf/EASPdoclaid260820b_260820_91241.pdf

[8] 2019, CORU, Annual Report 2019, https://www.coru.ie/files-publications/annual-reports/coru-annual-report-2019.pdf accessed 8 Nov 2020

[9] 2020, Irish College of Ophthalmologists, Eye doctors directory, https://www.eyedoctors.ie/opthalmologists/eye-doctors-database.asp?SpecialtyID=&MemberName=&searchusers=true&restr= accessed 8 Nov 2020

[10] 2020, Irish Association of Orthoptists states there “are currently 40 orthoptists working in Ireland, many of whom are part-time. We work mainly in the public service, either in hospitals or in the community setting, though many of us also work in the private sector. http://www.orthoptics.ie/about-iao.html accessed 8 Nov 2020.