A vision care clinic in Manchester, UK, last month provided free eye examinations and prescription glasses to people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, as well as disadvantaged families not eligible for NHS-funded eye care.
The initiative – delivered by the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation in collaboration with the Manchester Homelessness Partnership (MHP) and funded by Simplyhealth – took place March 23–27, with all services offered free of charge.
Beneficiaries were identified through MHP’s network across the city, with one clinic day dedicated to families who fall outside NHS eligibility criteria and have limited access to routine vision care.
Across the UK, around 73% of people require some form of vision correction, yet nearly 8 million are estimated to live with uncorrected poor vision. For people without a fixed address or GP (general practitioner) registration, access to NHS-funded eye care can be limited. In these cases, untreated vision problems can affect day-to-day activities, including accessing services and employment.
“Homelessness and poor vision are both isolating. Together, they can be devastating,” said Margarida Barata, Europe Programs Director at the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation. “This clinic is about addressing that barrier in a practical way.”
The clinic was supported by staff and partners including Vision Express, David Clulow, Optegra, and HumanWare. Simplyhealth funded the delivery, covering eyewear and operational costs.
The Manchester Homelessness Partnership coordinated outreach and engagement, drawing on its cross-sector network and involvement of people with lived experience of homelessness.
“Vision care is often overlooked for people experiencing homelessness in Manchester, despite its impact on daily life,” said Val Bayliss-Brideaux, Network and Communication Worker at MHP. “This partnership provided an opportunity to address that need directly.”
The clinic forms part of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation’s wider work to expand access to vision care through local partnerships.
While the NHS provides comprehensive eye care services throughout the UK, access can depend on eligibility criteria. The 2023 UK Eyes Have It report highlighted more than 640,000 patients waiting for ophthalmology treatment and called for a national eye care plan to address gaps in provision. Initiatives such as the Manchester vision care clinic aim to reach groups who may otherwise have limited access to vision care, providing assessments and corrective eyewear in a community setting.
