Optical bodies call for enhanced primary role

Optical bodies have urged health minister Lord Darzi to ensure optometrists become the first point of contact for local primary eye care services such as glaucoma referral schemes, diabetic retinopathy screening and low vision services.

Lord Darzi is currently undertaking a review of the NHS services with the aim of setting the agenda for change for the next 10 years. In response, ABDO, the AOP, FODO and the College of Optometrists have jointly written to the minister listing a series of proposals and highlighting barriers to making them a reality.

The bodies have called for new measures and funding so that more practice-based commissioners and PCTs can commission these services locally. They point out that a lack of funding has led to a postcode lottery of areas which operate a referral scheme for acute eye problems. Where a scheme is not in place the patient is referred to their GP who subsequently refers them to a hospital eye department.