Optometric or opthalmology services provided through the public health service are provided free of charge to certain people by optometrists, dispensing opticians and opthalmologists.
While some of these health professionals are employed directly by the Health Service Executive (HSE), the majority of those providing these services do so on a contract basis. Optometrists (formerly known as opthalmic opticians) examine your eyes to diagnose vision problems. They use instruments and observation to examine eye health and to test your visual acuity, depth and colour perception and your ability to focus and co-ordinate your eyes. Optometrists can also prescribe spectacles and contact lenses.
Dispensing opticians recommend and dispense spectacle frames, lenses, contact lenses, etc., having considered your prescription, your occupation, lifestyle, hobbies, etc. A dispensing optician cannot prescribe prescription spectacles or contact lenses for you. Instead, they can only dispense and recommend spectacles and contact lenses that would be most suitable for you, given your lifestyle.
Ophthalmologists are physicians who perform eye surgery and diagnose and treat eye diseases and injuries. Ophthalmologists can also examine eyes and prescribe spectacles and contact lenses. All medical practitioners can also examine eyes and prescribe spectacles and contact lenses.
Treatment Benefit is a scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection. Under this scheme, you may qualify for Dental Benefit, Optical Benefit, contact lenses, and hearing aids on the basis of your PRSI contributions.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is obliged to provide optical services free of charge to certain groups. These services may be provided by Health Service Executive (HSE) staff or by private practitioners.
Adults
Only vision tests and standard prescription spectacles (where required for medical rather than cosmetic reasons) are free of charge to adults in the groups listed above.
Children
Pre-school children and national school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations who are discovered to have sight problems are referred to the appropriate consultant for treatment. If this treatment is carried out at the out-patient department of a public hospital, the service is free and no hospital charges have to be paid. Services in these circumstances, will continue to be provided until the child has reached the age of 16.
You will not have to pay for optical services if you are among the qualifying groups above.
If you are not among the qualifying groups, the Treatment Benefit Scheme may cover you and your dependent spouse for certain free optical services. If you do not have enough social insurance contributions, you may have to pay for these services.
You may however be able to claim tax relief for medical expenses that are incurred by your spouse (and certain other relatives) as a result of specific optical treatments. These optical treatments must be prescribed by your practitioner. Read more about Taxation and Medical Expenses here.
It's important to be aware that charges for spectacles, lenses and contact lenses can vary considerably, depending on your choice and your practitioner.
If you are among the groups that qualify for free services, you should apply to your Local Health Office, health centre or clinic for a vision test. You may be referred by your family doctor (GP) for tests and treatment. The HSE then decides whether to send you to their own clinics or to a private practitioner.
Optometrists and dispensing opticians practising in Ireland must be registered with the Opticians Board. Opthalmologists must be registered with the Irish Medical Council.
You can check that your practitioner is registered with the relevant body. If you wish to make a complaint about a practitioner, you should contact the appropriate regulatory body under the heading "Where to apply".
PO Box 9013
12 Pembroke Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Ireland
Tel:+353 (0)1 668 0566
Homepage: http://iado.ie/index.php?page=home.php
Email: info@iado.ie
Department of Social Protection
St. Oliver Plunkett Road
Donegal
Ireland
Tel:(074) 916 4480
Locall:1890 400 400
Homepage: http://www.welfare.ie
Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) is obliged to provide free ophthalmic health services and appliances under Section 67 of the Health Act 1970 to:
Actually, Section 67 of that Act also obliges the HSE to make such services available to people with limited eligibility although this part was never brought into effect. This means that GP Visit Card holders and non-medical card holders are not entitled to free ophthalmic health services.
The Health Act 1970 does not specify the level of ophthalmic health services to be provided. In practice, certain groups of people have priority in the provision of services. Some groups who have an entitlement do not get any services.
The Health (Amendment) Act 1996 provides for the provision of free ophthalmic health services to certain persons who have contracted Hepatitis C directly or indirectly from the use of Human Immunoglobulin-Anti-D or from the receipt in Ireland of any blood product or a blood transfusion and who have a Health Amendment Act Card.