Patient confidence up, says GOC
The General Optical Council (GOC) has reported improved patient satisfaction with its 2026 public perceptions research, but inequalities remain.
This year’s findings show improved public confidence and satisfaction with eyecare services, with 94 per cent of respondents said they were confident they would receive a high standard of care from an opticians/optometrist practice, up from 93 per cent in 2025.
Satisfaction with the overall experience of visiting an opticians/optometrist practice also increased, from 87 per cent in 2025 to 89 per cent in 2026.
However, people facing multiple challenges – such as disability, low income, or bereavement – reported lower confidence (82 per cent) in eyecare services, compared with 97 per cent among those who are not facing such challenges.
People from ethnic minority backgrounds and those living in more deprived areas were also less likely to report positive experiences.
The research also shows that more people are accessing routine eyecare, with the proportion of respondents who had a sight test/eye examination in the last two years increasing from 80 per cent in 2025 to 84 per cent in 2026.
However, people facing multiple challenges were more likely to say their last sight test was more than five years ago, at 14 per cent compared with the average of seven per cent.
Those not in work and those on an income of £20,000 or less were also less likely to have had a sight test in the last two years (71 per cent and 76 per cent respectively).
Steve Brooker
Twenty per cent of those living in the most deprived areas reported they did not have a sight test or eye examination in the past two years.
Among people who had felt uncomfortable about visiting an opticians/ optometrist practice, the biggest concern was the cost of glasses or contact lenses, cited by 21 per cent, followed by the cost of sight tests/eye examinations, cited by 15 per cent.
For those who had not had a sight test/eye examination in the past two years, 24 per cent said this was because of the cost of glasses or contact lenses, while 19 per cent cited the cost of the sight test/eye examination.
Steve Brooker, GOC director of regulatory strategy, said: “It is really encouraging that public confidence in the profession and patient satisfaction with overall experience both increased this year. That reflects the high standards we see across the profession.
“But the findings also show inequalities that the sector needs to work hard to correct. People on lower incomes, living in deprived areas, or facing other challenges are less likely to report positive experiences or to have had a recent sight test.
“Cost also continues to act as a barrier to accessing eyecare for some people, particularly where it affects their ability to have a sight test or obtain the glasses or contact lenses they need.
“Our thematic review into commercial practices is reviewing transparency of the price of sight tests/eye examinations and eligibility for NHS funded financial support. We will publish our findings later this year.
“Our 2025-30 corporate strategy commits us to helping create fairer and more inclusive eyecare services. That means working in partnership with others to reduce barriers that can exacerbate health inequalities and contribute to poorer health outcomes.
“We will keep working with the sector to better understand these differences and help make eye care fairer for everyone,” Steve added.