Call for feedback

Patients living with age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma are being encouraged to have their say on the treatment they receive.

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is calling for feedback from patients as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) conducts its 2017 review of guidelines determining how the three eye conditions are treated.

There will be three separate consultations on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and glaucoma over a six-month period.

RNIB eye health campaigns manager, Jessica Hall, told OT that the charity would be conducting phone interviews and online surveys with patients to get their views.

“We want to hear from people living with AMD, cataracts and glaucoma because it’s important to know what the experiences are of people living with these conditions,” she added.

Patients were encouraged to express their interest in offering feedback by registering online, emailing or calling the charity.

Ms Hall explained that the information provided by patients would be analysed, with key threads in the feedback used to inform an RNIB consultation submission.

There had been a positive response to the call for patient insight, Ms Hall noted.

“We’ve heard from people living with all of the three conditions being examined in these guidelines, but we always want to hear from more people,” she emphasised.

“We’re really keen to get as many people as possible taking part. It’s very important that patients are represented in the review.”

Topics that will be covered in the review include the information that is provided to patients, and the support that they receive during diagnosis and treatment.

The deadline for patients to get in contact with RNIB is 13 February for people living with AMD, 17 April for cataract patients and 6 June for those living with glaucoma.

Patients can register to offer feedback on the RNIB website, or by contacting the RNIB directly, on 0207 391 2123 or by emailing [email protected].