The number of optical care treatments received by adults and children holding medical cards in Clare has fallen by 19% in the last year.
The latest figures from the HSE show that funding distributed to opticians in the county has reduced by over €50,000 in the same timeframe.
A total of 7,949 people in Clare have received optical care under the medical card scheme to date in 2023.
This is a decrease of over 19% on the 9,302 who had received care in the first six months of last year.
Of those who received treatment in Clare so far this year 6,789 were adults, 945 were children and 212 were teenagers.
Eye examinations accounted for 42% of all treatments carried out in the county from January to June, while the remaining 58% of cases involved dispensing aplliances such as glassess and contact lenses to patients in need.
The total spend from the HSE on optical care for medical card holders in Clare in the year to June was €301,847, a decrease of more than 15% and exactly €54,739 on last years expenditure.
There are currently 12 dispensing Opticians in Clare contracted with the HSE to provide eye care services to medical card holders.
