AOP welcomes report calling for greater use of High Street optometry to cut eye care backlog

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) welcomes recommendations set out by Healthwatch England in their report A strain on sight: waiting for NHS specialist eyecare on the need for greater use of community eye care teams to cut waiting times.

The report is in response to findings from over 1,000 patients who are currently waiting for specialist eye care appointments in England.

Chief Executive of the AOP, Adam Sampson said: “Too long, we have been in a desperate situation where patients are losing their sight as they wait for treatment. This report from Healthwatch is an urgent reminder that this is the last chance to act for many patients – but shows there is an immediate fix.

“Community optometry has been recognised by the Government as the right solution to solve this health emergency. Our work over the past year, including our co-commissioned PA Consulting report highlights that optometrists are ready to provide the clinical services that are needed to cut waiting times, while also bringing care closer to home for patients via a network of 6,000 High Street opticians across the UK.

“England is the only country in the UK that has no plan for eye care. This must change. We continue to call for a national framework for eye care that must include services for glaucoma and cataract to end the unacceptable postcode lottery. We must make sure patients get the care they need in their local High Street Optician, when they need it, so that avoidable sight loss is consigned to history.

“To achieve this goal, we need the Government to continue to focus on their commitment to the three big health shifts as outlined by Lord Darzi. Crucially, this includes delivering on the promise to rebalance the share of funding, driving more investment into primary eye care services, alongside pharmacy, dentistry, and general practice.”

Healthwatch’s findings also show that among those patients waiting for specialist eye care, 70% reported a “decline in sight” as the waited treatment, while over half said the wait “impacts work, daily activities or mental health.”

Pam Perceval-Maxwell, 76, who developed wet age-related macular degeneration in 2021 in her only good eye, requires regular injections. The first two injections happened within a four-week period, as required, but since then there have been delays of 12 and eight weeks, causing a rapid decline in her sight, and an examination showed vision has been lost.

Ms Perceval-Maxwell said: “I’m terrified I will lose my sight entirely. When your consultant stresses how important it is to have the injections on time but you can’t get an appointment it’s such a worry. I regularly call to see if there is a cancellation but I ask myself how much longer I can I cope with it,” she said.

According to the latest figures from NHS England, nearly 600,000 people are currently waiting for an ophthalmology appointment, which is one of the largest backlogs.

The AOP launched its Sight won’t wait campaign which demands immediate action on the eye care waiting list emergency: www.aop.org.uk/sightwontwait

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For more information, please contact Serena Box, Head of Media, PR and External Affairs, at the Association of Optometrists, [email protected] or telephone 0207 549 2040.

Notes to Editors

Association of Optometrists

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the voice of the optical profession, representing 80% of practising optometrists. The AOP elevates the work of its members, safeguards their interests, and champions eye health across the UK. For more information, visit www.aop.org.uk