Wales General Ophthalmic Service (WGOS)
To find out more WGOS services, go to https://www.nhs.wales/sa/eye-care-wales/wgos/member-of-the-public/
The WGOS service is here to help anyone who is worried about their sight or the sight of a relative or friend. If you or someone you know has an eye problem - whether it’s an emergency or your sight is gradually getting worse - you should see a high street optometrist (also known as an optician) straight away. In many cases it won’t cost you anything and could save your sight.
You can find practices providing WGOS services at the NHS page.
To find your nearest Low Vision Service Wales practitioner go to Perspectif.
Emergencies or eye problems requiring urgent attention
If you have any concerns at all about your eyes, see a High Street optometrist (also known as an optician) straightaway. He or she will tell you if you are eligible for a free eye health examination. This examination is known as an Examination for Urgent Eye Problems.
You can find an optometrist on most high streets in Wales. If you have a sight problem, you can go to your existing optometrist (if you have one) or just phone or walk into any practice that is convenient for you to get to. This links lists practitioners in Wales.
NHS Wales-funded Eye Examination
There are many criteria for getting a free Eye Examination from the NHS. [For full eligibility criteria go to Get help with NHS eye care costs | GOV.WALES]
Here are some of the criteria that are of particular importance:
- You’re registered sight impaired or severely sight impaired
- You have diabetes
- You have glaucoma or are considered to be at risk of glaucoma by an ophthalmologist
- You are over 40 and are the genetic father, mother, sibling or child of someone with glaucoma
- You are reliant on only one eye for seeing (You are uniocular)
- You are at risk of developing eye disease based on ethnicity (You are 40 years of age or over and self-certify as Asian or Black or you are under 40 years of age and self-certify as Asian or Black with additional risk factors associated with glaucoma or diabetes).
- You are hearing impaired, even with the use of hearing aids- You have Retinitis Pigmentosa
- You have been prescribed complex lenses under the NHS optical voucher scheme
Low vision or long-term poor vision
If you have a vision impairment or low vision, an optometrist can help you make the best use of the sight you have. They start by carrying out a low vision assessment. This assessment could, for instance, show that magnifiers or better lighting at home would help you. They can also advise you about other people and organisations who may be able to help you with transport, benefits or simple things to make life easier around the house.
Certain magnifiers and low vision aids (LVAs) are provided by the Wales General Opthalmic Service for Low Vision and paid for by the Welsh Government, so they won’t cost you a penny.
Find your nearest LVSW practitioner at Perspectif.
Certificate of Vision Impairment (Wales)
If you are a patient with Dry AMD (advanced macular degeneration), your LVSW practitioner can issue you with a CVI in Wales. (For other eye conditions the CVI is exclusively issued by an ophthalmologist.)
The leaflet about support for people with Dry AMD that is normally issued with the CVI can be found at https://wcb-ccd.org.uk/library/CVI-and-Macular-Leaflet-final-66742477884a2.pdf.
Mobile Services
Patients are entitled to a mobile service (a home, or domiciliary visit) if they are unable to leave home unaccompanied. They can offer additional services and some can carry out Low Vision assessments.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common single cause of blindness among people with diabetes aged between 16 and 64 in Britain. If you have diabetes, regular diabetic eye screening is essential to protect your eyesight as early detection is the key to successful treatment.
If you have diabetes, your GP should refer you for regular diabetic eye screening. Contact your GP if you haven’t received this. This test is not the same as a test completed by an optometrist.