Delivering Reform Through Community Optometry

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar joined Optometry Northern Ireland (ONI) at an event in Stormont to highlight the vital role of community optometry in improving access to care and shaping the future of eyecare in Northern Ireland.

As part of Eye Health Week 2025, the representative body for optometrists and dispensing opticians ONI showcased how community-based eyecare services can help address the growing eyecare crisis in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the event, Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar said: “The Department of Health is committed to making it easier for patients to access the care they need. Community optometry shows how services delivered closer to home can detect problems early, reduce waiting lists, and ease pressure on hospitals, all while improving outcomes for patients.

“As we take forward the Department’s Reset agenda, our priority is to build services that are sustainable, patient-centred and responsive to need. That means shifting more care into the community where it can be delivered quickly and effectively. The focus is on rebalancing the health and social care system so that care is delivered closer to home, hospitals are used for those who need them most, and services are planned for long-term sustainability. I want to thank our network of 700 optometrists who are highly skilled, local, and ready to help with 95% of the population living less than 5 miles from a practice.”

The Reset agenda also emphasises the importance of prevention and early intervention. With Northern Ireland’s ageing and rural population increasing demand for eyecare, community optometry has a crucial role to play. Initiatives such as the PEARS Plus pilot have already demonstrated success — with 89% of acute eye conditions treated in the community, quicker access to care for patients, and financial savings for the health service.

Concluding his remarks the Permanent Secretary, Mike Farrar said: “The Department will continue to work with partners to expand community-based services, support new models of care, and invest in the workforce of the future. By embedding the reset principles into eyecare and learning from existing eyecare service reform at a system level, we can ensure a health system that is safe, high-quality, and sustainable for patients now and for generations to come.”

ENDS