Revolution in Wales?

Barbara Ryan, Dr Tom Margrain and Professor John Wild describe the pioneering approach being adopted in Wales to provide eye care to
the visually impaired
In 2001 a review showed that one of the main problems with low vision services in Wales was access to the service.¹ Like many other parts of the UK, access to low vision services in Wales was restricted by a convoluted referral route typically involving referral from an optometrist to a general practitioner to an ophthalmologist and eventually on to a low vision service.

A survey of waiting times showed that in some parts of Wales people had to wait up to 18 months to access a low vision service.¹ The geographical distribution of services also often required people, many who were elderly with multiple disabilities, to make a round trip of 100 miles or more to reach the nearest service provider.