People with visual impairments will receive care closer to home
through a new Community Low Vision Service (CLVS).
Development work has begun on the new national service which will
allow patients with visual impairment, that cannot be managed
through glasses, lenses or surgery, to be supported by community
optometrists instead of in a hospital setting.
Optometrists will provide care to these vulnerable patients to
help them maintain their independence – including low vision aids
such as magnifiers and lights, regular specialist assessments and
signposting of additional help including mental health support
and social services. This service will build on the success of
community eyecare services already in place, the Community
Glaucoma Service (CGS) and Anterior Eye Service.
The CGS supports patients with lower risk glaucoma and ocular
hypertension to be discharged from hospital and receive direct
care from an accredited optometrist in the community. The
Anterior Eye Service allows community optometrists to treat ten
complex eye conditions which normally require a hospital visit.
When fully operational it is estimated these services
combined will support 40,000 patients to be fully treated in the
community.
The roll-out of the national CLVS will be supported by record
investment of £144 million across all community eyecare in this
year's Draft Budget. On a visit to Munro Optometrists in NHS
Lanarkshire, Health Secretary said:
“The introduction of our new low vision service is a significant
step forward in our efforts to have more people treated in the
community and close to home instead of a hospital setting. This
new service will complement the programmes we already have in
place – our Anterior Eye Service and Community Glaucoma Service –
which together we anticipate will allow an estimated 40,000
patients to be treated closer to home.
“We know this delivers better outcomes and we want community
optometrists to be the first port of call for all eye-related
conditions - the national roll-out out of these services, backed
by £144 million for the sector, will help free up substantial
capacity in our hospitals.
“It has been nearly 20 years since free universal NHS-funded eye
examinations were introduced in Scotland and we remain the only
country in the UK to provide this vital service. We will maintain
this crucial policy and I would remind people of the importance
of having regular examinations which can help with early
detection of a range of sight and non-sight threatening
conditions.”
Background
The Community Low Vision Service (CLVS) will provide specialist
eye assessments, practical support, and low vision aids to people
whose sight cannot be fully improved with glasses or medical
treatment, helping them to manage daily tasks and stay
independent. The CLVS will be based on a very successful low
vision service that has operated in Wales.
More information on The Anterior Eye Service
