Community optometrists have been called upon to follow their local referral pathways to help save the sight of wet AMD patients as part of a campaign by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
A new report by the charity found that 69 per cent of wet AMD cases were being diagnosed outside of the recommended seven days.
The RNIB also called on Local Professional Networks for Eye Health to review local referral procedures to ensure patients had rapid access to diagnosis and wet AMD services.
The RNIB's Don't lose sight! Don't delay! report forms part of the charity's Save our Sight (SOS) campaign, and found that 74 per cent of wet AMD patients had their first contact with a community optometrist.
It said the condition could lead to vision loss in as little as three months, so patients needed to be diagnosed in the eye clinic within seven days, and treated within a week in line with Royal College of Ophthalmologists' guidance.
RNIB optometrist Helen May said: 'Optometrists play an important role in the community and can help to save the sight of many more wet AMD patients. It's vital that patients get an urgent referral, diagnosis and treat-ment within the recommended 14 days' guidance.
'We encourage optometrists to follow their local rapid referral guidelines when available or use the fastest mode of referral if wet AMD is suspected.'
The RNIB report also identified instances of patients being referred unnecessarily between optometrist and GP, delaying diagnosis, while one third of patients felt there was a lack of information and support at the time of referral and diagnosis.
Local commissioners were also urged to fund tools, such as ocular coherence tomography (OCT) in the community to help optometrists and GPs identify potential wet AMD patients, while a consumer initiative was encouraging people over 50 to be alert to the signs of eye disease, with a focus on AMD.