'The Eyes Have It' Launches New Report Calling for a National Eye Care Plan for England to address surging patient demand

Today on Westminster Eye Health Day, key stakeholders and experts from across the eye health sector have launched a definitive new report laying out the coordinated action required to improve eye care for patients in England.

Across the UK, there are over 2.2 million people living with conditions that cause sight loss.[1] There were over 640,000 people waiting to start specialist ophthalmology treatment in England alone as of September 2023, making ophthalmology one of the largest contributors to NHS waiting lists.[2] By 2050, four million people in the UK are expected to be living with sight loss, and the costs of sight loss to the UK economy are expected to rise to at least £33.5 billion per year.[3]

Eye care is the busiest outpatient specialty in the NHS in England,[4] and demand for eye care services is likely to grow as demographic changes mean more people are living with conditions which cause sight loss.[5] Addressing this need is one of the NHS's paramount challenges and why the eye health coalition, The Eyes Have It, has launched this report to highlight current challenges and solutions to support the NHS and improve patient care.

“I welcome this foundation report which sets out the blueprint to deliver access to eyecare for everyone, when and where they need it. Also, for what best practice should look like and the urgent need for the government to commit to my national eye health strategy for England. By taking coordinated action across each of the priority areas outlined in the report, I believe we can make the eye health system fit for purpose,” said Marsha de Cordova MP for Battersea and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Vision Impairment. “I thank the members of The Eyes Have It for their tireless efforts and commitment to improving eye care.”

The new report, Laying the foundations for the future of eye health in England, highlights key issues facing people affected by sight loss and identifies 14 recommendations for policymakers across critical themes including: data and connectivity; prevention, diagnosis, and early treatment; equity of access throughout the patient pathway; challenges faced by the eye care workforce; new technologies and treatment models; investment into research for future treatments and the availability of treatments at large.

Some of the key recommendations from the report include:

• improving IT connectivity and image sharing between primary and secondary care
• ensuring people living with sight-threatening conditions are supported by trained Eye Care Liaison Officers
• greater utilisation and upskilling of the primary eye care workforce to deliver more care outside hospital
• doubling funding for eye care research

Through the report, The Eyes Have It calls upon the Government to develop a much-needed national eye care plan for England, and coordinated action across the four nations to ensure that people living with conditions that cause sight loss receive the best care possible.

[1] RNIB. Sight Loss Data Tool Version 5.2. 2023. Available from: https://www.rnib.org.uk/professionals/health-social-care-education-professionals/knowledge-and-research-hub/sight-loss-data-tool/ [Accessed December 2023]

[2] NHS England. Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times for Incomplete Pathways. 2023. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Incomplete-Commissioner-Sep23-XLSX-4256K-77379.xlsx [Accessed December 2023]

[3] RNIB. Key statistics about sight loss. 2021. Available from: https://media.rnib.org.uk/documents/Key_stats_about_sight_loss_2021.pdf [Accessed December 2023]

[4] NHS England. Hospital Outpatient Activity, 2022-23: All attendances. September 2023. Available from: https://files.digital.nhs.uk/C9/49D3E3/hosp-epis-stat-outp-all-atte-2022-23-tab.xlsx [Accessed December 2023]

[5] RNIB. Key statistics about sight loss. 2021. Available from: https://media.rnib.org.uk/documents/Key_stats_about_sight_loss_2021.pdf [Accessed December 2023]

Notes to editors

For further information and images please contact: [email protected]

The Eyes Have It is a partnership of Macular Society, Fight for Sight / Vision Foundation, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Association of Optometrists, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Roche Products Ltd. Roche has funded the activities of the partnership. You can find out more on the partnership’s website; The 'Eyes' Have It | The Eye Health Day (eyeshaveit.co.uk)

Macular Society is the charity dedicated to beating the fear and isolation of macular disease, by funding world-class research, and providing the best advice and support to those affected by macular conditions. Beating Macular Disease - Macular Society

Fight for Sight / Vision Foundation is the only independent UK-wide funder changing lives through grant investment in ground-breaking scientific research and innovative services for people with sight loss. Fight for Sight - Stopping sight loss through pioneering research

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is the UK’s leading sight loss charity. We want to change our world so there are no barriers to people with sight loss. RNIB | Homepage of the Royal National Institute of Blind People

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the voice of the optical profession, representing over 80 percent of practising optometrists. The AOP elevates the work of its members, safeguards their interests and champions eye health across the UK. Association of Optometrists (AOP) - Homepage

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists is the professional body for ophthalmologists in the UK, committed to developing and promoting the highest standards of patient care. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists | (rcophth.ac.uk)

Roche Products Ltd is a pioneer in pharmaceuticals, focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. Roche believes that more can and should be done to improve and protect vision.