The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has backed new NHS (National Health Service) England guidance designed to reduce avoidable sight loss from glaucoma by improving early diagnosis, referral accuracy, and long-term patient follow-up across England.
Published through NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) program, the Best Practice for Glaucoma Services framework aims to standardize glaucoma pathways and address growing pressure on UK eye care services. The guidance has also been endorsed by the College of Optometrists, RNIB (the Royal National Institute of Blind People), Glaucoma UK, the UK Ophthalmology Alliance, and the Independent Healthcare Providers Network.
In line with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, the guidance promotes digitally enabled care pathways and greater delivery of services in community settings. Under the proposed model, patients with suspected glaucoma will undergo more extensive diagnostic testing in the community before referral to hospital eye services, helping to reduce unnecessary referrals and ensure patients who require specialist care are prioritized more quickly.
For patients requiring ongoing monitoring, the framework advocates the expansion of high-volume virtual glaucoma clinics supported by diagnostic testing undertaken in hospitals, primary care, and community optometry settings. These pathways are intended to reduce delays in follow-up appointments, an issue that has been repeatedly linked to preventable sight loss in UK glaucoma patients.
The guidance also highlights the importance of lifelong continuity of care for people with chronic glaucoma, while ensuring that patients who no longer require specialist monitoring can be safely discharged.
GIRFT said the framework is intended to support collaboration between ophthalmology departments, community optometrists, and integrated care systems to create more consistent and efficient glaucoma services nationwide.
To support implementation, GIRFT will host a webinar on 30 June from 12pm to 1pm (BST) outlining the recommendations in more detail, including three key priority areas aimed at improving co-ordination of care and reducing delays in follow-up. The session will also explore how clinicians and organizations can work collaboratively to improve outcomes for glaucoma patients.
UK ophthalmologists can register for the webinar here.
