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Glaucoma Awareness
09 July 2025
Lead MP
Shockat Adam
Leicester South
Ind
Responding Minister
Stephen Kinnock
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 8905
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Shockat Adam raised concerns about glaucoma awareness in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Adam calls for increased awareness and regular eye tests to prevent glaucoma and for a shift towards community-based care, including optometrist-led services that could free up hospital appointments and save the NHS £12 million annually.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
As an optometrist, Shockat Adam highlights the silent and often undiagnosed nature of glaucoma, which affects over 700,000 people in the UK with more than half undiagnosed. He cites examples of patients who have lost significant vision without realising it until too late.
Ayoub Khan
Ind
Birmingham Perry Barr
Congratulated Shockat Adam on securing this debate and suggested a proactive approach where GPs make referrals for individuals at higher risk.
Brian Leishman
Lab
Alloa and Grangemouth
Shared his personal story of being diagnosed with glaucoma at 25 and the importance of early detection, noting that without it he would have been blind in his mid-30s.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
He praised the hon. Member for Leicester South for raising important health issues and highlighted that glaucoma affects about 700,000 people in the UK with potential blindness. He called on the Government to consider commissioning a national glaucoma pathway as suggested by the Association of Optometrists. Asked about the Full Fact and Sky News report that highlighted a slowdown in appointments despite delivering 4 million additional ones.
Helen Morgan
LD
North Shropshire
Ophthalmology waiting lists grew longer under the previous Government. Early intervention is key to preventing long-term health issues and chronic shortage of ophthalmologists needs addressing.
Iqbal Mohamed
Ind
Dewsbury and Batley
Mr. Mohamed supported the idea of investing in community-based services to better manage glaucoma, citing examples from London where diagnostic hubs have halved hospital referrals and saved millions.
Irene Campbell
Lab
North Ayrshire and Arran
Eyecare Ayrshire promotes early intervention through local optometrists. The service directs people to go to an optometrist, which can be vital if there are any underlying or undiagnosed eye conditions.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Mr. Shannon highlighted the prevalence of glaucoma in Northern Ireland, citing a study that found a 2.83% rate among people aged 50 and above. He also mentioned advancements such as iStent injects now being offered routinely at Altnagelvin area hospital and Belfast city hospital.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
Gregory Campbell supports Shockat Adam's call for regular eye tests, emphasizing that even if no other progress is made from this debate, raising awareness about the importance of early detection can significantly impact prevention.
Shockat Adam
Lab
Wolverhampton South West
Thanked each MP for their contribution and highlighted the growing number of people with glaucoma due to an ageing population. Emphasised the importance of utilising optometry as a primary eyecare provider, similar to GPs and pharmacists.
Government Response
Stephen Kinnock
The Minister for Care
Government Response
Thanked Dr Shockat Adam for securing the debate, acknowledged the importance of glaucoma detection through regular sight tests, and highlighted the NHS investment in over £600 million annually for sight tests. Emphasised the reduction of NHS waiting lists by over 230,000 patients including ophthalmology since July 2024, delivering more than 4 million additional appointments. Also discussed the implementation of glaucoma referral refinement services and the aim to reduce waiting times for eye care.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.