Practitioners urged to use new internet data

Practitioners are being urged to use the newly launched National Eye Health Epidemiological Model (NEHEM) to persuade commissioners to put together realistic budgets to tackle the four common eye conditions in their area.

As reported in last week's Optician, (News, October 10), the web-based model was commissioned by the optical bodies to provide data on the prevalence of glaucoma, cataract, age-related macular degeneration and low vision. Funded by practitioners, through their contributions to the local optical committee central fund, the data is based on epidemiological and population studies, and split by age, gender and geographical or primary care trust (PCT) area.

The model was officially launched at an event in London on World Sight Day (October 9) attended by stakeholders including representatives from PCTs. Event host and former GOC chief executive Peter Coe said the unveiling of NEHEM marked 'one of the most significant moments in the optical world in the last 10 or 20 years'.