Public confidence in eye care increases, but inequalities in access and experience persist
The General Optical Council (GOC) has today published its 2026 public perceptions research, which explores the public’s views and experiences of using eye care services across the UK.
This year’s findings show improved public confidence and satisfaction with eye care services. 94% of respondents said they were confident they would receive a high standard of care from an opticians/optometrist practice, up from 93% in 2025. Satisfaction with the overall experience of visiting an opticians/optometrist practice also increased, from 87% in 2025 to 89% in 2026.
However, the research shows that the experience of eye care is not the same for everyone. People facing multiple challenges – such as disability, low income, or bereavement – reported lower confidence (82%) in eye care services, compared with 97% 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 eye care, with the proportion of respondents who had a sight test/eye examination in the last two years increasing from 80% in 2025 to 84% in 2026.
Despite this overall improvement, some groups remain less likely to have had a recent sight test. People facing multiple challenges were more likely to say their last sight test was more than five years ago, at 14% compared with the average of 7%. 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% and 76% respectively). 20% of those living in the most deprived areas reported they did not have a sight test or eye examination in the past two years.
Cost is still putting people off seeking eye care. 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%, followed by the cost of sight tests/eye examinations, cited by 15%.
For those who had not had a sight test/eye examination in the past two years, 24% said this was because of the cost of glasses or contact lenses, while 19% cited the cost of the sight test/eye examination.
Steve Brooker, Director of Regulatory Strategy at the GOC, 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 eye care 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 eye care 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.”
The research was carried out by DJS Research, interviewing a representative sample of 2,014 people in the UK between 9 February – 2 March 2026.
See the full public perceptions 2026 research report, data sets and infographics.
