This article provides an overview of the latest updates to the Sight Loss Data Tool.
Version 6.1 builds on the major redevelopment introduced in Version 6.0, with refreshed datasets, new measures requested by users and updates to NHS and population geographies across the UK.
New Integrated Care Board structure in England
The Sight Loss Data Tool has been updated to reflect the latest NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) structure in England.
All relevant health data has been aligned to the new boundaries, ensuring that users can access data based on current NHS geographies. As part of this change, the number of ICBs in England has reduced from 42 to 36.
Updated estimates for Wales and Northern Ireland
We've updated our prevalence modelling using the latest 2022-based sub-national population projections for Wales and Northern Ireland.
This means that estimates and projections for 2026 and 2036 have been refreshed across a variety of metrics, including eye conditions and sight loss. These updates ensure that local estimates continue to reflect the most up-to-date population evidence available.
New sight loss by eye condition estimates
Based on feedback from users, we've added a new set of measures showing the number of people living with sight loss caused by different eye conditions.
Sight loss estimates can now, in addition to age and severity, also be split by cause. The categories are:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic eye disease
- Cataract
- Uncorrected refractive error
- Other eye conditions
Future projections are also available, helping users understand how the causes of sight loss may change over time.
New inherited retinal dystrophy estimates
We've expanded the Eye Conditions section to include data on inherited retinal dystrophy.
The new measures provide estimates of the number of people living with inherited retinal dystrophy today, alongside projections for future years. This strengthens the evidence available on less common eye conditions and supports planning and advocacy activity.
Enhanced education data
We know that data on children and young people is widely used by schools, local authorities and specialist education services.
To support this, depending on location, we've added new data from the School Census measures covering:
- children with vision impairment as a primary area of need
- children with vision impairment as a secondary area of need
- children with vision impairment identified as an educational need overall.
These new measures provide additional insight into the educational support needs of children and young people with vision impairment.
New population health and deprivation data
We've added a range of population health and deprivation measures to provide additional context about local communities and wider determinants of health.
New measures include:
- deprivation rank
- percentage of neighbourhoods in the 10 per cent most deprived areas nationally
- percentage of people reporting bad or very bad health
- percentage of people with a long-term illness or disability that limits day-to-day activities
- comparisons with national averages for health and disability.
These measures help users better understand the wider demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with eye health and sight loss in their area.
Latest health and eye care data
We've refreshed a number of health and social care datasets to provide the latest available picture of eye health services across the UK.
Updates include:
- Certificates of Vision Impairment (CVI) data
- Ophthalmology waiting list data
- Outpatient activity measures
- Cataract surgery admissions
Keeping the data up to date
The Sight Loss Data Tool continues to evolve in response to new evidence and user feedback. Our aim is to provide the most robust and accessible source of local eye health and sight loss data in the UK.
We’ll continue to refresh data as new statistics and population estimates are released, improve the accuracy and relevance of our modelling and add new measures to help users better understand local need and outcomes. Feedback from users remains a vital part of this process and has directly shaped many of the enhancements included in this update.
John Slade