How accessible is primary eye care for children in England?

PURPOSE: Good vision during childhood is vital for visual, educational, and social development. Previous research highlights challenges in the accessibility of eye care for children. This study investigates the accessibility of primary eye care for young children with typical development and those with autism in England. METHODS: A telephone survey was conducted using four hypothetical scenarios (a child aged 1, 3, 5 years and a 13-year-old with autism). Four hundred community optometric practices (100 different practices for each scenario) were contacted to explore the availability of an eye examination. The caller acted as a parent, asking about the availability of an eye examination for their child and raising concerns regarding the child. Key barriers and enablers to the accessibility of primary eye care were identified through an analysis of qualitative information. RESULTS: Of the 400 practices, only three (