Sight tests by health board
See what variables and values are shown in your table
| Variable | Visibility | Selected values | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data description | Shown in table | Number of Tests | Value cannot be changed |
| Year | Shown in table | All 29 values | Change values |
| Area | Shown in table | All 10 values | Change values |
| Measure | Shown in table | All 26 values | Change values |
Table
Standard shorthand is used in this table: [r] = revised, [t] = total.
| Data values | Data description | Year | Area | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 463,850 [t] | Number of Tests | 1996-97 | Wales | All sight tests paid for by the NHS |
| 477,210 [t] | Number of Tests | 1997-98 | Wales | All sight tests paid for by the NHS |
| 477,090 [t] | Number of Tests | 1998-99 | Wales | All sight tests paid for by the NHS |
| 630,620 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | All sight tests paid for by the NHS |
| 17,050 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Total domiciliary sight tests |
| 244,840 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: persons aged 60 and over |
| 154,880 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: children aged 15 or under |
| 26,590 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: students aged 16 - 18 |
| 94,380 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: adults receiving Income Support |
| 22,880 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: adults receiving Tax Credit |
| 14,270 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: adults receiving Job Seekers Allowance |
| 17,420 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: adults holding a low income certificate |
| 680 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: registered blind/partially sighted |
| 27,380 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: diabetics/glaucoma sufferers |
| 2,110 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: persons requiring complex lenses |
| 25,180 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Sight tests: close relatives aged 40 and over of glaucoma sufferers |
| 630,620 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Total sight tests: eligible patients |
| 2,200 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Private sight tests partially NHS funded |
| 0 [t] | Number of Tests | 1999-00 | Wales | Private domiciliary visit partially NHS funded |
| 659,330 [t] | Number of Tests | 2000-01 | Wales | All sight tests paid for by the NHS |
| 18,210 [t] | Number of Tests | 2000-01 | Wales | Total domiciliary sight tests |
| 242,430 [t] | Number of Tests | 2000-01 | Wales | Sight tests: persons aged 60 and over |
| 166,350 [t] | Number of Tests | 2000-01 | Wales | Sight tests: children aged 15 or under |
| 32,340 [t] | Number of Tests | 2000-01 | Wales | Sight tests: students aged 16 - 18 |
| 97,680 [t] | Number of Tests | 2000-01 | Wales | Sight tests: adults receiving Income Support |
Next update expected:September 2026
Updates
- 30th September 2025
- Dataset first published.
Main information
- Designation
- Official statistics
- Data provider
- NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
- Data source
- GOS 1 Sight Test form
- Time period covered
- April 1996 to March 2025
Overview
- Summary of dataset and variables
This dataset shows the number of sight tests paid for by the NHS in Wales. under the Wales General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS) 1 and GOS 5 services. The data is broken down by Local Health Board and financial year. Sight tests are further broken down by eligibility category, including age groups, clinical need, and entitlement to income-related benefits. Prior to 2023-24, equivalent services were provided through GOS 1 and GOS 6 claims.
- Data collection or calculation
The NHS sight tests data is sourced from the GOS 1 Sight Test Form, which is submitted by practices to NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) for payment. This data is subject to some estimation. Due to the scale of the number of sight tests, the information from only 1 in 50 (2%) sight tests is recorded to a database. This means that the information from that sample is scaled up to estimate the number of sight tests by eligibility criteria. The domiciliary sight tests data is extracted from the K2 payments system, which is collected by NWSSP from the GOS 6 Mobile NHS funded Sight Test form submitted by practices for payment.
The data for private sight tests with partial help towards the full cost is extracted from the K2 payments system, which is collected by NWSSP from the GOS 5 Private Sight Test form submitted by practices for payment.- Statistical quality
The sight test data by patient eligibility and type of practitioner collected through WGOS 1 is based on a sample rather than the entire population, as only one in every fifty sight tests is recorded. This sampling and subsequent scaling introduces some uncertainty to the estimates, meaning the figures provided are not exact counts but rather approximations. Users should be aware of this estimation method when interpreting the data. Despite this sampling uncertainty, the time-series has been broadly stable. Eligibility definitions for NHS-funded sight tests have changed over time. For example, from 2023-24 separate categories relating to care leaver, care of local authority, risk of eye disease, uniocular, hearing impaired and retinitis pigmentosa were introduced. 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