Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1328. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which adequate funding has been made available for vision care; the extent to which funding has been made available to fulfill the commitment to the World Health Organisation objectives of Vision 2020 to eradicate preventable blindness by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37263/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Vision 2020 is the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness. It is a joint programme of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Vision 2020 has targeted a number of diseases that contribute to blindness, many of which are related to infections commonly found in tropical regions.

The WHO monitoring committee for the elimination of avoidable blindness stated in 2006 that, generally speaking, the prevention of blindness is, for the most part, not a public health issue in a large percentage of countries in the Americas and Europe. It went on to state that many of the countries in these two regions have long solved their infrastructure problems and their health care delivery systems function efficiently.

A number of eye conditions are part of Vision 2020, including cataract, refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Detection and treatment services are available throughout the country, in community and acute hospital settings, for many conditions which can lead to vision impairment and blindness. For example, diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and the leading cause of blindness among working age Irish adults. Approximately 10 per cent of the Irish diabetic population has sight-threatening diabetic detinopathy and around 90 per cent of this group will develop some form of retinopathy.

The HSE commenced the national diabetic retinopathy screening programme (Diabetic RetinaScreen) in February 2013.

Diabetic RetinaScreen offers free, annual diabetic retinopathy screening to people with diabetes aged 12 and older. Eye screening uses specialised digital photography to detect, at an early stage, when it is effective at reducing or preventing damage to sight. The aim of the programme is to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst people with diabetes.

A quality assurance framework and a central database of the eligible diabetic population has been developed for the programme. The first round of screening is being introduced on a phased basis, in line with the roll-out of the first round of screening across other international programmes. Approximately 30 per cent of the eligible diabetic population is expected to be invited in 2013. It is expected that by the end of this year, 5,000 screenings will take place each month. The remaining 70 per cent will be screened in 2014. From 2015 full screening is to be in place.

Two companies have been contracted to provide photography and grading services for the programme. Seven treatment centres have been identified and by the end of October 2013, it is expected that all centres will be online. Treatment is tailored on a case-by-case basis. For 2013, it is estimated that the cost of screening will be €3.1 million and treatment will be €1.8 million.

Screening tests for glaucoma are available and treatment involves anti-glaucoma medication, which is also widely available. Treatment options for certain types of age-related macular degeneration are available, although it is generally agreed that further research is required and this in ongoing on a global basis. Cataract is amenable to surgical intervention and is provided in acute hospitals.

Section 67 of the Health Act 1970 requires that ophthalmic treatment and optical appliances be made available to medical card holders. Services are provided to adult medical card holders and their adult dependants by contracted practitioners. An adult medical card holder may avail of treatment and/or appliances once every two years.

A community ophthalmic treatment scheme, providing both medical and surgical services, is available in some parts of the country.

All children of primary school age are provided with an optical screening service by the HSE as provided for in the Health Act 1970. Any refractive errors are treated and spectacles or other appropriate care is provided where necessary. Children between 12 and 16 years whose parents are in receipt of a medical card are eligible for HSE eye-care services when they are named on their parents' cards. Other children between 12 and 16 years are eligible to be seen by an HSE eye doctor when there is a medical reason for the eye condition, rather than a refractive error. Such patients may be referred for treatment after being examined by an optometrist.

The Government has continued to provide financial supports to those agencies involved in research, support and service provision for people with visual impairments in Ireland. The Government remains committed to provide and develop vision services and supports through health prevention, screening and intervention policies and programmes, all of which contribute as we work to address the priority goal of Vision 2020, namely to eliminate avoidable blindness in Ireland.