Vision loss patients ‘left stranded at one of the most vulnerable times in their life’ due to NHS eye doctor shortage, new report reveals

• Older people with sight loss are going without vital care due to a historic rule where only an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) can certify them as severely sight impaired or visually impaired, according to a new report
• The certificate is the first step to accessing support and benefits relating to vision loss, yet many go unregistered, due to overstretched hospital eye departments
• A poll of UK optometrists shows that more than half (55%) had frequently seen patients who were eligible for the document but did not have one
• The Association of Optometrists is calling for an urgent review of the certification process to allow optometrists and other healthcare professionals to grant them, enabling patients to access the help they need
• MPs will today be petitioned by the Association of Optometrists to take action this Mental Health Awareness Week.

A new report from the Association of Optometrists (AOP), shows that the mental health of people with vision loss worsens without critical support following diagnosis – with many experiencing life changing depression, anxiety and social isolation.

The shortage of ophthalmologists (eye doctors) in the NHS, coupled with the growing backlog of patients on waiting lists, is preventing many individuals with vision loss from obtaining the certificate needed to access essential support services.

 The AOP is calling for optometrists and other qualified health professionals to be able to certify sight loss to allow more people to be registered and get the help they are entitled to.

340,000 people in the UK are certified as sight impaired or severely sight impaired but this figure is thought to be a significant under-estimate of the actual numbers.

Under the current system, a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) can only be signed off by an ophthalmologist but with overstretched hospitals this does not always happen – meaning that many simply go without life-enhancing support.

The majority (86%) of optometrists working on the High Street support the move which would bring England in line with other countries such as Wales, where optometrists have been granted the power to issue the certificates. 

The conclusion comes off the back of research with over 1000 optometrists, where more than half had frequently seen a patient who was eligible for a certificate but did not have one.     

The AOP believe this change will lead to more people gaining access to the support and benefits such as a referral to Low vision rehabilitation programmes provided in the community, supporting their mental health and wellbeing.  

Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of the AOP, said: “For some time, the AOP has been highlighting cases of patients losing their sight because of delays in hospital eyecare. This research highlights a further cost of the delays. The requirement that only an ophthalmologist is entitled to certify sight loss denies people who are newly diagnosed of the very services they need to support them during the first, critical months when they are struggling to come to terms with their condition.

“The link between vision loss and poor mental health has been known for years. It is appalling that people who have just received a life-changing, often devastating, diagnosis are left stranded without essential support, at one of the most vulnerable times in their life.

“We are calling on the Government to act now to extend the power to certify sight loss to optometrists and other medical specialists so that we can remedy this dreadful situation.”

Virginia Reid, 86 yrs old, who cannot leave her home due to poor health and arthritis said that being able to access low vision services has made a significant difference, saying that her vision aids have allowed her to “read and see her medications, post and magazines.”

Older people are disproportionately impacted due to age related eye conditions such as macular degeneration and Glaucoma, which can cause irreversible sight loss, affecting the population.

With older people who have vision loss twice as likely to suffer from depression, and poor vision limiting mobility and participation in social activities, many experience far higher rates of loneliness and mental distress.

Highlighting what it means to patients to access low vision services, Sid K Maher a Low Vision Practitioner at Cotswold Ocularis explained: “The service continues to make a profound difference in addressing health inequalities and providing accessible, patient-centred care. With minimal cost, it delivers impactful results, offering independence and improved quality of life to patients in need.”

Patients share their experience of sight loss and accessing support:

• “When I came out after the consultant gave me the diagnosis, my thinking wasn't very clear and not knowing what to do or how to cope, I saw the Eye Care Liaison Officer and she helped ease the situation a little and ongoing help has been very supportive.”
• “I was floundering in every direction and suddenly he was a focal point. It has been my reluctance to ask for help. He was very clear he was available. He had excellent connections.”

An overhaul of the Welsh eye care system in 2022 means that optometrists can now provide the certificate to patients either in a High Street practice or their own home.

Speaking to Optometry Today, Wales Council of the Blind director, Owen Williams, shared his delight at the change saying: “Thanks to an accompanying leaflet, these patients have had faster access to additional support, welfare benefits, financial concessions and services in social care.”

This Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May), the theme of ‘community’ highlights the need for improved community services for the older population. The AOP is calling on the Government to urgently address the current rules, to ensure patients with vision loss receive the vital support they need, when they need it.

To read the Transforming Eye Care for older people for better health report in full, visit www.aop.org.uk/eyecareforolderpeople.

Notes to Editors

For more information, please contact Anjola Sulaiman, PR and Media Executive, at the Association of Optometrists, [email protected] or telephone 0207 549 2062.

Patient images are available to download here.

Association of Optometrists

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the voice of the optical profession, representing over 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