There is an almighty race on to buy expensive new glasses or get eye laser treatment. Thousands of people are flocking to opticians and private health clinics, some are even flying to Turkey to have their eyes done.

Why? Because a scheme offering tax deductions on these sorts of medical expenses is to be severely curtailed from January 1.
The government estimated that 3.4 million households would use the tax cut scheme. But it got its sums wrong and it seems that almost four million are using it – leaving the treasury with a big hole in its pocket.
Will the government ever get its sums right? What are the legions of number crunchers in The Hague being paid for? And since when has an Armani frame for glasses been an exceptional medical expense? Why do thousands of people suddenly need laser surgery on their eyes?
Obviously not one civil servant thought twice about the scheme. Otherwise there might have been a tighter definition of ‘extraordinary medical expenses’ or a ceiling placed on the maximum cost for any particular item.
Maybe the government should hire in former tax dodgers to advise on new fiscal policy. They would surely spot loopholes in any scheme and may be able to save valuable money for truly exceptional medical expenses.