AOP event reimagines the future of low vision services

A diverse range of stakeholders convened to discuss practical actions for achieving comprehensive low vision services at the Low Vision Services Consensus Workshop (25 November, London).

The event, which was hosted by the AOP in close collaboration with Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) saw eye care professionals collaborate with representatives from specialist charities and government to discuss next steps to bring about consistent commissioning of low vision services across the UK.

AOP policy and governance manager, Paul Alexander, highlighted that event attendees gauged the pros and cons of existing exemplar services and shared tips on best practice.

“Following rich and realistic discussion of what commissioners will need to fund low vision services, the assembled group have concluded that, above all, evidence of efficacy is what is needed.  There needs to be a concerted effort from the sector to gather and synthesise these data and to speak with one persuasive voice that will secure UK-wide commissioning,” he emphasised.

Alexander added that eye health sector has long been calling for a comprehensive low vision service to be available to all patients, regardless of where they live in the UK.

“There is a growing necessity to form a cohesive sector-wide business case that will compel commissioners to achieve this,” he said.

Alexander observed that low vision services should be commissioned in all areas of the UK, with more clarity in the thresholds for referral.

“Frameworks, guidelines and clinical standards have been developed over the last few years, but there remains a gap in commissioned services, with a wide variation in how they are delivered,” he shared.

Dr Louise Gow on the RNIB Adult Low Vision Service Quality Framework

Head of eye health, low vision and optometry at RNIB, Dr Louise Gow, delivered an overview of low vision services within the UK at the event.

She highlighted that more than two decades ago Professor Barbara Ryan and Dr Louise Culham highlighted the disparate nature of low vision services in their report Fragmented vision: survey of low vision services in the UK.

“Unfortunately, we have not moved on,” Gow said.

“We have the same situation in the vast majority of the UK – with the notable exception of Wales – where some areas have excellent services and some areas have nothing at all,” she observed.

Gow added that there is no statutory requirement for different regions to provide a low vision service.

She shared that a range of professionals with a variety of qualifications currently provide low vision services.

“There are many different people who will refer to themselves as low vision practitioners,” Gow highlighted.

“You have variation in what is commissioned, who is providing the service and what that service includes,” she explained.

In some areas, low vision services are provided by integrated care boards and in other regions they are the responsibility of social care services.

Gow shared that RNIB has created an Adult Low Vision Service Quality Framework that those involved in providing low vision services can refer to.

The framework was developed in collaboration with stakeholders from across the eye health sector, and endorsed by 13 organisations – including the AOP, College of Optometrists and Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

“It can be used as an audit tool and a benchmark to guide the commissioning of services,” she said.

“If you're setting up a low vision service, if you’re auditing your own service, or if you’re commissioning a service, it tells you what the key components should be,” Gow added.