The hospital-centric model of public eyecare is outdated and causing unacceptable delays, optometrists told a European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) meeting in the Republic of Ireland.
John Weldon, president of Optometry Ireland, said patients are being diagnosed late and waiting too long for treatment, damaging their health, reducing their independence and compromising quality of life.
“A lot more diagnosis, treatment, prescribing and monitoring of eye diseases and conditions can be provided in the community by optometrists under public contract”, he said. “We can learn from other European countries who have adapted this model of care. This can be done without much difficulty and is more cost effective.
“We need to triage public eyecare, with more routine services accessible at local optometrists.” Hospital ophthalmology departments should be dedicated to specialist and complex care, he added.
More than 38,500 people were on the outpatient waiting list at the end of March, and 8,500 on the inpatient list.
Health minister Stephen Donnelly said community optometrists were pivotal to the delivery of core eyecare services and have the potential to play an even greater role. In a video message he said officials were working to contract more services to community optometrists.
Shifting care to community professionals “is a core pillar” of the ten-year Sláintecare initiative to reform Ireland’s healthcare towards a system based on medical need, not ability to pay, he added.
Optometry Ireland chief executive Seán McCrave stressed the need to make real progress. “There have been major changes in optometry. Techniques have changed and treatments have expanded. Equipment and technology have transformed.
“Our 23 year-old contract does not recognise these changes, and so doesn’t provide a meaningful reference for what optometrists can and should provide.”