The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has issued the following response to government’s and NHS England’s announcement on free sight tests for special schools.

Max Halford FBDO CL, ABDO Clinical lead says: “We welcome the government’s announcement on the future of the special schools service which has removed a degree of short-term uncertainty. The concept of optometrists and dispensing opticians working as a clinical team to deliver care in the school setting continues to be transformational for so many of these children.

"This is a good news story for all of the children who’s access to eyecare cannot be delivered in traditional settings and we congratulate SeeAbility and sector colleagues who have worked tirelessly to keep the eyecare of children at special schools on the governments agenda and we look forward to working with them to ensure the long-term success of this service”.

Read the ministerial statement on sight testing in special schools here.