AOP insists glaucoma advice still stands

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) has insisted practitioners abide by its advice on the NICE guidelines on the management of glaucoma and ocular hypertension in England and Wales, despite the publication of a NICE 'clarification' notice.

The NICE guidelines, announced on April 22, require that anyone with suspected IOP of over 21mmHg or glaucoma symptoms be referred. As reported in Optician (24.04.09), NICE guidance notes suggested that optometrists would still be able to monitor already diagnosed ocular hypertensives and suspect primary open-angle glaucoma patients provided they could perform and interpret a number of clinical techniques including Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT).

However, NICE has since published a 'clarification notice' on the pressure measurement recommendation saying that there had been 'confusing interpretations' of its guideline. NICE claimed that the AOP's advice 'did not accurately reflect' its intention, although it acknowledged that the advice was published 'purely for legal defence reasons'.