Low Vision assessments by visual acuity recorded and health board

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Next update expected:September 2026

Updates

30th September 2025
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Official statistics
Data provider 1
Low Vision Service Wales
Data source 1
No specific source from data provider
Data provider 2
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
Data source 2
Low Vision Assessment Record Card
Time period covered
April 2013 to March 2025

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

This dataset shows the number of low vision assessments by the visual acuity recorded.

Wales General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS) 3 enables patients who would benefit from optical and non-optical aids as well as holistic rehabilitation support (including sight impairment registration) and advice to access a low vision service in or close to their place of residence.

The data is broken down by visual acuity recorded during the assessment and Local Health Board. Visual acuity measures the clarity or sharpness of a person’s vision—6/12 means seeing at 6 metres what a person with normal vision sees at 12 metres, while 6/60 indicates significantly poorer vision. The dataset provides an overview of low vision service activity and the distribution of visual acuity levels among patients across health boards.

Data collection or calculation

Visual acuity is measured according to the "Snellen fraction" by comparing the distance in metres at which a patient can correctly identify a letter with the distance at which a person with standard vision could identify it. For example, 6/6 indicates normal vision, while 6/12 means the patient can see at 6 metres what a person with standard vision could see at 12 metres. To arrive at the overarching visual acuity categories presented in this data, various categories in the underlying data were combined, such as ‘6/7.5 – 6/12’ being combined with ‘6/6+’ to form the ‘6/12 or better category’. The number of low vision assessments with each visual acuity is then broken down by financial year and health board to arrive at the final dataset. The data is based on claims made by practices to NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) for payment. Practices submit a record card to NWSSP and this data generates the payment from the system. NWSSP provide an aggregated dataset with counts to Welsh Government.

Statistical quality

On 1 April 2019, health service responsibility for Bridgend residents moved from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg to Cwm Taf. Health board names also changed: Cwm Taf became Cwm Taf Morgannwg, and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg became Swansea Bay. See the weblinks section for official statements.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
stats.healthinfo@gov.wales