Statistics show that abuse is prevalent in the UK. One in four women in England and Wales experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, according to Refuge (2017). One in 15 children in the UK has been emotionally abused (NSPCC, 2024). And around one in 50 people aged 75 and above has been subjected to domestic abuse (Age UK, 2022).

It is therefore likely optometrists will see children and vulnerable adults who they suspect are victims of some form of abuse.

“Like any other clinician in any other part of the NHS, an optometrist has a duty to report suspected abuse in their patients,” says Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE FCOptom, College Clinical Adviser. “Even though an average sight test is about 30 minutes, optometrists can provide vital intelligence or a piece of information in the jigsaw that may indicate signs of abuse.”

He adds that there are many small signs that may raise an optometrist’s suspicions. “The patient may have an eye injury that doesn’t add up or their glasses may have been broken every couple of weeks. It may be an older patient with dementia who has a relative who is acting unusually about their money. For example, you recommend they need new glasses and the family member says: ‘They don’t need them, they’ve got dementia and can’t see anyway.’”