AOP's strategy for optometry

AOP’S STRATEGY FOR OPTOMETRY – SUMMARY Aimed at MPs, NHS Commissioners and other decision-makers, this leaflet summarises the AOP’s view on the future of optometry in the UK

Optometrists are the eye care professionals who test sight, identify disease and provide treatment for certain eye conditions. They work in around 6000 primary care optical practices (commonly known as opticians) across the UK, as well as in hospitals.

Today, 75% of UK adults need prescription eyewear. It is optometrists who supply those prescriptions. However, primary care optometrists are qualified and equipped to do far more NHS work than they carry out — work that currently only or mainly takes place in overstretched hospital eye and emergency departments.

For instance, optometrists can: Treat patients with minor eye conditions that otherwise present at their GP or hospital emergency department Investigate patients’ concerns about their eyes and therefore reduce the number of unnecessary referrals to ophthalmology outpatient departments Detect undiagnosed general health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes Monitor patients with some eye diseases or after surgery, freeing up hospital appointment slots for first-time attendees and those who need the specialist care of an ophthalmologist.

The Scottish and Welsh Governments gave primary care optometrists an expanded role in eye care some years ago, and are both currently looking at the scope to do more. Northern Ireland has also developed specific pathways for optometrists in primary care. There has been no equivalent national vision in England. The 2021 Eye Care Planning Implementation Guidance requires that commissioners start to act to redress that.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic showed how primary care optical practices could care for patients when hospitals and GPs could not. It prompted commissioners and clinicians to innovate. But NHS primary eye care beyond the sight test remains patchy in England, creating a postcode lottery that is confusing and unfair for patients.

Our Strategy for Optometry describes the progress that has already been made by innovative commissioners and providers around the UK. It also shows how optometry can and should play a much greater part in NHS care in the short and medium term.

WHAT WE ARE CALLING FOR Comprehensive extended primary eye care services which are commissioned consistently and appropriately funded across each UK nation Fair funding of NHS primary eye care services, so that every community will continue to have ready access to eye care.

THE BENEFITS Every patient will receive high quality care, quickly, in the most appropriate and cost-effective setting Hospital eye departments will be able to concentrate on the patients who really need to be seen by an ophthalmologist – also helping to manage the backlog of treatment created by COVID-19, for example in cataract surgery The skills of all eye care professionals will be used to their fullest.

THE LONGER TERM The coming years will see profound changes in the level of demand for eye care and the way it is delivered. The ageing population will increase demand for eye care. Diagnostic artificial intelligence technology will become available to High Street optical practices and technology will also enable greater integration between hospital and primary care. Meanwhile, the education and training of optical professionals will develop in ways that enable them to take on new clinical roles in multi-disciplinary teams – as long as the funding for high quality training is there. But the chronic long-term underfunding of NHS sight tests, together with patients increasingly choosing to buy their glasses and contact lenses online, could threaten the existence of the network of physical practices that the NHS depends upon. Systematic reform of eye care funding will be vital if patients in every community are to retain access to the care they need.

Photo taken before COVID-19

Read our full Strategy for Optometry www.aop.org.uk/optometrystrategy