AOI pushes for national cataract scheme

Irish optometrists have called for the introduction of a cataract initiative which they hope will help to save over 20,000 hospital appointments.

The award-winning ‘Sligo Post-Cataract Scheme’ was first trialed in the North West of Ireland and proved highly successful in reducing waiting times for patients and cutting costs in the region.

Under the scheme, patients are co-managed by optometrists and hospital ophthalmologists.

On the back of the program’s success, the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI) has called for the scheme to be adopted across the country. It hopes that the initiative will reduce waiting times by speeding up the patient pathway.