21 May 2021

FODO member update - 21 May

This week:

• NHSX - How digital eye care referrals will transform care
• New health leaders announced - Scotland and Wales
• International Optician of the Year 
• RCOphth report finds opportunities to improve cataract surgery outcomes
• Optometrist wins award for AI research
• One month left to join VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme
• BCLA - Love your lenses campaign
• Other sector news

NHSX - How digital eye care referrals will transform care

This week NHSX said that four regions in England have started implementing an electronic e-referral and image sharing service (EeRS). NHSX says the rollout paves the way for optometrists to see more patients closer to home and release capacity in the hospital eye service. Read the statement.  

Claire Roberts at NHS England has also written a blog about how digital eye care referrals might transform care. Read the blog. 

New health leaders announced - Scotland and Wales

Following recent elections, Humza Yousaf is the new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in Scotland. Eluned Morgan is the new Minister for Health and Social Services in Wales, with Vaughan Gething becoming Economy Minister. 

International Optician of the Year

Time is running out to nominate an optician for this year's International Optician of the Year Award. If you would like to nominate someone, you need to submit nominations by 31 May 2021. Learn more and nominate a colleague. 

RCOphth report finds opportunities to improve cataract surgery outcomes

Alcon has funded an analysis of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) National Ophthalmology Database - which includes over 600,000 operations performed by 2,566 surgeons.

The findings suggest significant "variation in observed post-cataract PCO rates between different centres and different IOL materials and designs, such as the higher observed PCO rate in IOLs with a hydrophilic component." The study also found that about half of all centres have a single preferred IOL that is used in more than 90% of cases.

John Buchan, NOD Cataract Audit Clinical Lead and consultant ophthalmologist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said the level of variation "suggests that there could be substantial benefits to patients and to the NHS from further work to identify the IOLs or other modifiable risk factors that impact PCO rates in individual centres". One example is potentially being able to reduce the need for YAG laser surgery significantly.

Read the RCOphth statement. 

Optometrist wins award for AI research

The College of Optometrists has awarded optometrist Dr Reena Chopra the George Giles postgraduate research prize for "outstanding contributions to research in the fields of optometry, optics and vision science".

Dr Chopra used AI to predict the progression of wet age-related macular degeneration. She reported that the system "overcomes substantial interobserver variability in expert predictions, performing better than five out of six experts, and demonstrates the potential of using AI to predict disease progression". Read the research paper. 

One month left to join VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme

If your business deferred VAT payments last year, you have until 21 June 2021 to join the new online payment scheme to spread the cost of deferred VAT. This is because the online portal for the new payment scheme will close on 21 June 2021. Read more and act now. 

BCLA - Love your lenses campaign

The BCLA has announced it will bring back Love Your Lenses Week, a campaign that raises awareness of safe contact lens wear and the benefits of wearing contact lenses. The event will take place 14 - 20 June 2021. Learn more. 

Other sector news

100% Optical will take place online on 23 and 24 May. The two-day virtual event will provide online networking opportunities, CET and opportunities for suppliers to engage with customers.

The first Monday in June will make Orthoptics day, the event is organised by the International Orthoptic Association (IOA) and aims to help orthoptists globally promote their profession and celebrate the work they do.

RNIB, the Guardian and Google have united to launch an accessible storytelling website. Learn more.