What the ophthalmology backlog of 600,000 patients is costing the NHS

A summary of the economic impact of sight loss and how community optometry is poised to help

Cost saving

Could be saved by 2050 by reducing eye conditions by just 1% through early detection, diagnosis and treatment

Provide glaucoma care in community optometry and cut hospital referrals by 50%

Extend community eye care services, reducing the pressure on A&Es and GPs

Widen the prescribing powers of optometrists, making it easier for patients

Provide OCT scans as part of the NHS sight test to speed up diagnosis

Connect with secondary care to expedite diagnosis and treatment of eye disease

Long term goals to improve the patient eye care pathway