16 September 2025
Optometry Scotland is calling for the full integration of optical coherence tomography (OCT) into primary eye care across Scotland.
The call was issued today (16 September) coinciding with the publication of a new report, The use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in primary care optometry, which has been submitted to Scottish Government.
Informed by Optometry Scotland’s Short Life Working Group (SLWG) on OCT, the report outlines the role that OCT plays in the early detection of eye conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
A survey of Scottish optometrists, which was performed as part of SLWG research, found that 80% of optometry practices are already using OCT, but there were regional and demographic inequalities to access.
Currently, OCT is not funded through General Ophthalmic Services (GOS), something which leads to a postcode lottery for early diagnosis and treatment, Optometry Scotland highlighted.
The report calls for urgent government action to be taken to address inequalities in access to OCT and reduce pressure on secondary care services.
Making recommendations, the report calls for the introduction of an enhanced GOS fee for OCT scans in acute eye presentations, as well as a national capital funding programme to support practices to invest in OCT.
Optometry Scotland emphasised that its survey found “strong support” among optometrists for incorporating OCT into NHS-funded services.
The organisation explained that cost remains a barrier to the universal access of OCT, particularly in deprived areas where it states ocular disease prevalence is higher and patients are less likely to be able to pay for private scans.
Focusing on the benefits of integrating OCT universally, the report says it would support reduced hospital admissions, improve referral accuracy, and enhance the training and development of practitioners.
The report concludes that with record-high secondary care waiting lists alongside a rising ageing population, expanding the use of community-based OCT is key to delivering timely, preventative eye care.
Optometrist and chair of the SLWG, Julie Mosgrove, said: “OCT is already changing lives, but only for those who can afford it. This report shines a light on the growing gap in access to essential diagnostic services and makes clear recommendations to address it. If we are serious about tackling health inequalities and building a sustainable healthcare system, we must make sure there is equitable access to this technology across all communities in Scotland.”
Mosgrove emphasised: “The evidence is clear: investing in OCT at a national level will enhance patient outcomes, support clinical decision-making and ease the burden on our overstretched hospital services. This is a crucial investment in both technology and the future of eye care.”
The AOP told OT that it supports Optometry Scotland’s call. The Association’s clinical and policy director, Dr Peter Hampson, said: “Empowering primary care optometry with the tools to detect disease early will not only improve patient outcomes but also reduce pressure on Scotland’s stretched hospital eye services.”
Hampson said the report was important and highlighted that it “echoes our asks in England, presented in our commissioned report with PA consulting, Transforming eye care and eye health in England.”
Hampson emphasised: “The equitable provision of OCT across all regions is vital to ensuring early diagnosis and effective management of sight-threatening conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration, particularly in communities where health inequalities are most pronounced. We see this as a timely and necessary step towards a more sustainable, preventative model of care.”
The report can be read in full on Optometry Scotland’s website.
Comments (3)
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Anonymous22 September 2025
I think the end game here for Optometry Scotland is to lobby Scottish Government for large capital spend on OCTs for practices to allow equality of access to care across Scotland. Great idea, but is this money well spent?! Back of a fag packet calculation (£20k x 1400 practices) = £28 million and that does not even include the proposed OCT consultation fees. That's a lot of cataract ops!!
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Anonymous18 September 2025
There’s still a lack of understanding of OCT among a large section of optometrists. The amount of unnecessary reviews I’ve encountered at a Locum is just a glimpse. What the HES gets must be ridiculous.
This proposed integration would stop multiples getting an extra £10 out of patients for what they just see as a load of grey lines. It’s ridiculous the above has been allowed. There also needs to be some improvements to the software of the Nidek units. To say it’s temperamental is an understatement. It also does like dry eyes.
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Anonymous18 September 2025
To ensure that the HES isn’t swamped with incidentals there would need to be significant investment in community optometrists ability to interpret OCT.
Currently the knowledge isn’t matching the technology which is subsequently increasing the workload of the HES.
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