Earlier this year I chaired a meeting of the five nations at the College: the optometric bodies of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. This was a great opportunity to discuss topics of common interest with our partners, identifying and sharing successes and challenges.

Learning from our peers strengthens our knowledge and allows us to build our relationships to drive forward eye care. There is no benefit in reinventing the wheel; we just need to utilise those wheels to move forward.

I was pleased to see the launch of the UK Eye Care Data Hub in January. Led by the College, organisations such as ABDO, BIOS, DoH NI, FODO and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists have collaborated to develop this new tool to support healthcare commissioners and providers in planning and designing future eye care services. 

Lack of adequate capacity in the hospital eye service is failing patients: tens of thousands of them are waiting over a year for treatment, putting them at risk of irreversible sight loss. There is a significant increase in the prevalence of certain eye conditions and eye disease. Demand will continue to outstrip capacity. 

The UK Eye Care Data Hub models over 40 eye conditions, and more will be added in future updates to provide a comprehensive view of eye disease and conditions across the UK. 

The tool also allows users to model the future eye care workforce, spanning both primary and secondary eye care services. This vital insight will support eye care and service planners to understand how the workforce will change over time.  

The College, working alongside other bodies representing the eye care workforce, is calling for greater investment in training and a recognition that services should be remodelled to make the best of the whole workforce, particularly optometrists working in primary care. This is one of my most important messages as I meet with stakeholders in my role as President.

By commissioning more eye care services in primary care, health commissioners can provide more timely access to effective eye care for an ageing population and ultimately help prevent avoidable sight loss.

Image credit | Caroline Andrieu