The Government must deliver a coordinated plan for eyecare across England to ensure all patients get the right treatment, fast, say leading eye health bodies.
The Eyes Have It partnership, including The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth), Association of Optometrists (AOP), Royal National Institute Of Blind People (RNIB), the Macular Society, Fight for Sight and Roche Products, is urging MPs to back a nationwide programme for a more joined up approach to eye health, supporting local decision-making with national accountability.
Just under 644,000 patients were on ophthalmology waiting lists in England in July – almost 10 per cent of the entire NHS backlog. More than 28,000 had been waiting for longer than a year.
The partnership called on MPs to support the call to use primary care more effectively, expand the ophthalmology workforce and redesign patient pathways to reduce backlogs in eye care. It held the second Westminster Eye Health Day in October to highlight the issue.
Marsha de Cordova, chair of the cross-party group on eye health, said: “Those with potentially avoidable sight loss don’t have time on their side. Many do not realise that swift treatment, often within two weeks, is needed to prevent vision from deteriorating further.”
Ms Cordova, who has sight loss, added: “Even before the pandemic, ophthalmology was the busiest outpatient service in the NHS but it doesn’t get the recognition or investment it deserves. We need a national eye care strategy that will deliver a joined-up system so we can truly deliver for people living with sight loss.”
Fight for Sight chief executive Keith Valentine said: “As waiting lists for thousands of patients get longer, the window to access services becomes slimmer. We know that between 15 and 22 patients a month will suffer severe deterioration of vision, including permanent sight loss as a result of delays. With earlier detection and prevention, we can break that pattern and reduce the financial impact of sight loss on the NHS.
“Reducing the prevalence of eye conditions by just one per cent per year could avoid costs to the UK economy of up to £3.1 billion by the end of the decade. Ophthalmology needs to become a priority. It’s time to act now and fast.”