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For more information on this release:
E-mail: health@cso.ie Damien Lenihan (+353) 21 4535424 Paul M Crowley (+353) 21 4535090
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN
CSO statistical release, , 11am

HSE Funded Optical Treatments

2013-2015

Number of HSE funded optical treatments, 2013 - 2015
'000s of treatments
Gender201320142015
Male319.2316.2315.5
Female451.6449.3453.9
State Total770.8765.4769.4

Number of optical treatments falls by 1,400 between 2013 and 2015.

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The number of Health Service Executive (HSE) funded treatments under the Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS) fell from 770.8 thousand in 2013 to 769.4 thousand in 2015. This is less than 1% of a reduction.

These payments were paid for by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS). Please see background notes for a further description of the PCSR and COSS.

Summary Points

  • The supply of appliances is the most commonly carried out optical procedure, accounting for over 50% of all publicly-funded treatments each year. The second most commonly performed treatment is eye examinations, which makes up approximately 38% of the total number of treatments each year. Home visits by opticians or ophthalmologists are the least carried out form of treatment, making up approximately 1.3% of the total number of treatments.  See Table 1 and Figure 1.
  • In 2015, 453.9 thousand publicly funded dental treatments were carried out on females compared with 315.5 thousand on males. The corresponding figures for 2013 are 451.6 thousand and 319.2 thousand respectively. See Table 2.
  • The South region had the highest number of publicly funded optical treatments in 2015, with 223.3 thousand. The lowest number of treatments was carried out in the Dublin North-East region, where 142.5 thousand were carried out.
  • The age group with the highest number of treatments each year if the 75 years and older age group. This was 214.7 thousand in 2015 and 216.3 thousand in 2013. The age group with the lowest number of treatments is the 25-34 years old age group, with 35.5 thousand in 2015 and 37.8 thousand in 2013. See Table 2.
  • The average number of claims per person was 2.1 in 2013. This rose to 2.2 in 2014 and 2015. See Table 3.
  • The number of cataract treatments each year is approximately 3.8 thousand. The number of treatments carried out for glaucoma is approximately 4.5 thousand. See Table 4 and Figure 2.
Age related macular degenerationCataractsDiabetic Ophthalmic ManagementGlaucoma
20131500380025004400
20141700400020004600
20151600380015004500
  • The 75 years and over age group have the largest number of cataracts carried out each year, at approximately 2.5 thousand. This age group also has most treatments carried out relating to glaucoma, at approximately 2.1 thousand. The Dublin Mid-Leinster region has the highest number of cataracts carried out at approximately 2.6 thousand each year. It is also the region with the highest number of treatments relating to glaucoma, with approximately 2.5 thousand each year.
  • The average cost of an optical treatment fell from €38.71 to €38.57 per treatment in the years 2013 to 2015. See Table 5.
  • The average cost per treatment in 2015 was higher for females at €38.60 than for males at €38.53. Both of these figures have fallen since 2013, when the average cost per treatment for a female was €38.73 and €38.68 for a male.
  • A treatment for the an individual aged 75 years and older was on average 27.6% higher than a treatment for an individual in the 0-24 years age group in 2015. The difference has fallen, with the cost of a treatment being 27.7% higher for individuals in the 75 years and older cohort than the 0-24 age cohort in 2013. See Table 5 and Figure 3.
201320142015
0 - 24 years31.7831.7931.83
25 - 34 years32.532.4732.66
35 - 44 years34.3234.2634.42
45 - 54 years37.6137.7337.74
55 - 64 years39.4539.439.39
65 - 74 years41.0441.0140.8
75 years and over40.9140.8940.61
Table 1: Total number and percentage of optical treatments by treatment description, 2013-2015
 201320142015
 '000s% '000s% '000s%
Treatment Description        
Appliances (incl. glasses and contact lenses)408.453.0 408.153.3 412.253.6
Eye examination295.738.4 290.938.0 291.937.9
Home visit by optician/ophthalmologist10.11.3 9.71.3 10.71.4
Medical optical treatment25.43.3 27.43.6 26.43.4
Repairs and replacements31.24.1 29.33.8 28.23.7
        
Total treatments770.8100.0 765.4100.0 769.4100.0
Open in Excel: HSE Funded Optical Treatments - Table 1 (XLS 11KB)
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Table 2: Number of optical treatments, by gender, age group and Local Health Office region, 2013-2015
000s of treatments
  Appliances (incl. glasses and contact lenses)Eye examinationHome visit by optician/ opthalmologistMedical optical treatmentRepairs and replacementsTotal treatments
State       
 Total2013407.4295.610.125.431.2770.8
  2014408.1290.99.727.429.3765.5
  2015412.2291.910.726.528.3769.4
         
Gender       
 Male2013171.9121.63.510.112.0319.2
  2014171.5119.63.410.611.1316.2
  2015171.7119.13.810.110.8315.5
         
         
 Female2013235.5174.06.615.319.2451.6
  2014236.6171.36.316.818.2449.3
  2015240.5172.86.916.417.5453.9
         
Age Group       
 0 - 24 years201327.125.9<0.10.31.454.8
  201428.626.6<0.10.31.356.9
  201530.027.7<0.10.31.259.3
         
 25 - 34 years201318.018.3<0.10.61.037.8
  201417.517.6<0.10.60.836.5
  201517.117.0<0.10.60.735.5
         
 35 - 44 years201328.626.00.10.91.457.0
  201428.625.50.10.91.256.4
  201528.525.10.10.91.255.8
         
 45 - 54 years201358.742.70.21.53.4106.5
  201459.442.50.21.63.1106.9
  201559.642.30.21.52.9106.4
         
 55 - 64 years201367.545.40.42.54.5120.2
  201468.045.00.42.64.2120.2
  201569.745.40.52.53.9122.0
         
 65 - 74 years201395.866.11.26.58.6178.1
  201494.964.21.16.78.2175.2
  201595.864.71.26.27.9175.8
         
 75 years and over2013112.871.38.213.110.9216.3
  2014111.069.48.014.710.3213.3
  2015111.569.78.714.510.4214.7
         
Local Health Office Region       
 Dublin Mid-Leinster2013101.171.72.714.37.2196.9
  201498.968.32.915.36.5192.0
  2015100.768.73.414.56.0193.3
         
 Dublin North East201378.151.42.34.55.0141.4
  201479.651.62.25.45.0143.8
  201578.451.32.35.84.7142.5
         
 South2013119.589.02.84.19.5224.8
  2014118.186.82.33.78.8219.7
  2015120.687.82.73.68.7223.3
         
 West2013109.783.62.32.59.6207.7
  2014111.584.12.32.99.1209.9
  2015112.584.22.32.58.8210.2
Open in Excel: HSE Funded Optical Treatments - Table 2 (XLS 14KB)
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Table 3: Average number of claims per person, by gender, age group, and local health office region, 2013-2015
Number of claims
 2013 2014 2015
State     
 Total2.1 2.2 2.2
       
Gender     
 Female2.1 2.1 2.2
 Male2.2 2.2 2.2
       
Age Group     
 0 - 24 years1.8 1.8 1.8
 25 - 34 years1.8 1.8 1.8
 35 - 44 years2.0 2.0 2.0
 45 - 54 years2.2 2.2 2.2
 55 - 64 years2.3 2.3 2.3
 65 - 74 years2.2 2.2 2.3
 75 years and over2.2 2.2 2.3
       
Local Health Office Region     
 Dublin Mid-Leinster2.1 2.1 2.1
 Dublin North East2.2 2.2 2.2
 South2.2 2.2 2.2
 West2.2 2.2 2.2
Open in Excel: HSE Funded Optical Treatments - Table 3 (XLS 12KB)
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Table 4: Number of selected major optical conditions, by gender, age group and Local Health Office region, 2013-2015
'000s of treatments
  Age related macular degenerationCataractsDiabetic Opthalmic ManagementGlaucoma
State     
 Total20131.53.82.54.4
  20141.74.02.04.6
  20151.63.81.54.5
       
Gender     
 Male20130.51.41.42.0
  20140.61.41.02.1
  20150.51.40.82.1
       
 Female20131.02.41.22.4
  20141.12.51.02.5
  20151.12.40.72.5
       
Age Group     
 0 - 24 years2013<0.1<0.1<0.1<0.1
  2014<0.1<0.1<0.1<0.1
  2015<0.1<0.1<0.1<0.1
       
 25 - 34 years2013<0.1<0.1<0.1<0.1
  2014<0.1<0.1<0.1<0.1
  2015<0.1<0.1<0.1<0.1
       
 35 - 44 years2013<0.1<0.10.10.1
  2014<0.1<0.10.10.1
  2015<0.1<0.10.10.1
       
 45 - 54 years2013<0.1<0.10.30.3
  2014<0.10.10.20.3
  2015<0.10.10.10.3
       
 55 - 64 years20130.10.20.40.5
  20140.10.20.30.5
  20150.10.20.30.6
       
 65 - 74 years20130.41.10.81.4
  20140.41.10.61.4
  20150.41.00.51.4
       
 75 years and over20131.02.50.82.0
  20141.12.60.72.2
  20151.02.40.52.1
       
Local Health Office Region     
 Dublin Mid-Leinster20131.02.61.42.5
  20141.12.71.12.5
  20151.02.50.82.4
       
 Dublin North East20130.30.50.30.9
  20140.30.60.21.1
  20150.30.60.21.3
       
 South20130.20.50.40.7
  20140.10.40.40.7
  20150.10.40.30.7
       
 West20130.10.30.30.3
  20140.10.30.30.3
  20150.10.30.20.2
Open in Excel: HSE Funded Optical Treatments - Table 4 (XLS 13KB)
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Table 5: Average payment per optical treatment, by gender, age group, and local health office region, 2013-2015
€
 2013 2014 2015
State     
Total38.71 38.68 38.57
      
Gender     
Male38.68 38.64 38.53
Female38.73 38.70 38.60
     
Age Group     
0 - 24 years31.78 31.79 31.83
25 - 34 years32.50 32.47 32.66
35 - 44 years34.32 34.26 34.42
45 - 54 years37.61 37.73 37.74
55 - 64 years39.45 39.40 39.39
65 - 74 years41.04 41.01 40.80
75 years and over40.91 40.89 40.61
      
Local Health Office Region     
Dublin Mid-Leinster40.39 40.38 40.21
Dublin North East38.78 38.90 38.89
South38.01 37.90 37.84
 West37.82 37.78 37.63
Open in Excel: HSE Funded Optical Treatments - Table 5 (XLS 12KB)
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Background Notes

The data in this release are provided to the Central Statistics Office by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS). The PCRS is the part of the Health Service Executive (HSE) that processes payments to all of the GPs, pharmacists, opticians and other health professionals who provide free or reduced cost services to the public.

Payments to opticians and ophthalmologists are covered under the Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS). Under the COSS, General Medical Services (GMS) eligible adults have access to a range of treatments and clinical procedures. All claims under the COSS are processed and paid by the PCRS.

Under the GMS, people who are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants may be granted a medical card and receive free general medical services.

The figures derived in this release refer to treatments that were carried out in the corresponding year.

Treatments and definitions

  • Appliances include glasses, contact lenses, prisms, etc.
  • Eye examinations include examinations by ophthalmologists and opticians.
  • Medical optical treatments include treatments for cataracts, ophthalmic diabetes, and other optical medical conditions.
  • Repairs and replacements include the repair of both reading and of distance lenses.

Regions

The regions consist of the local health offices and are constructed as follows; 

Local Health Offices

Dublin Mid-Leinster

 Dublin South

Dublin North East

 Dublin North West
  Dublin South East   Dublin North Central
  Dublin South City   Dublin North City
  Dublin South West   Cavan / Monaghan
  Dublin West   Louth
  Kildare / West Wicklow   Meath
  Wicklow    
  Laois / Offaly     
  Longford / Westmeath    
       

West

 Galway

South

 South Lee Cork
  Mayo   North Lee Cork
  Roscommon   West Cork
  Donegal   Kerry
  Sligo / Leitrim   North Cork
  Clare   Carlow / Kilkenny
  North Tipperary / East Limerick   Waterford
  Limerick   South Tipperary
      Wexford
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