Eyecare for ethnic minority groups in the UK

18 November 2014

Volume 15, Issue 4

There is higher prevalence of eye disease in the non-white population of the UK. A lack of awareness of increased risk and reduced uptake of eyecare services means sight loss is more prevalent.

Although in the 2011 census (Table 1) the second largest ethnic group (Asian, including Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi/ Chinese) only accounts for 3.3% of the population (Office of National Statistics 2011), ethnicity is still an important issue when planning eyecare services, as ethnic mix varies considerably between localities. For example, in West Yorkshire, the Bradford population is more than 26% Asian – more than three times higher than the proportion in its neighbours Calderdale or Leeds (Figure 1).

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