A new Eye Care Interoperability Steering Group has been established to accelerate the adoption of consistent diagnostic test standards across eyecare so images and other investigations can be saved, viewed and shared seamlessly and consistently between all primary and secondary eyecare settings.
Co-chaired by the College of Optometrists and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, with work funded by the Optical Suppliers Association (OSA), the group will also be informed by representatives from across the eyecare sector and major ophthalmic imaging device manufacturers.
The new steering group will build on the work of a DICOM Task and Finish group*, which was initially set up by NHS England, expanding the work to be relevant across the UK nations. It will set out an action plan of key project stages to develop, test and roll out cross-sector adoption of an agreed common set of diagnostic test standards, together with an audit mechanism to support compliance and adherence to the standards.
The Eye Care Interoperability Steering Group has three clear objectives for its initial activities:
The steering group will identify the priority DICOM tags that should be adopted by all UK eyecare device manufacturers and suppliers to enable a simple, effective user experience for all eyecare professionals. This work will be delivered by Opticare Innovations, an OSA subsidiary, to ensure independence and protection of commercial sensitivities. The OSA is funding this work.
The steering group plans to independently audit conformance with the new standards for all devices within eyecare. The results would guide and inform future purchasing and procurement decisions across the eyecare sector.
The group’s work will also support research at scale by advancing the availability of images in an open format for analysis, which “will be critical for the development of AI decision support and safety tools in eyecare to improve patient care”.
Dr Gillian Rudduck, president of the College of Optometrists, said: “The aims and work of the new steering group showcase the eyecare sector’s shared commitment to delivering the best possible care to patients by improving collaborative working and enabling faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions. Improving digital image and test standardisation is critical for ensuring more eyecare can be delivered at the right place and at the right time for patients, to prevent delays that lead to avoidable sight loss.”
Professor Anthony Khawaja, chair of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ Digital Health Working Group, said: “Ophthalmology is one of the most image-intensive specialties. Without shared standards, images and data cannot move safely and efficiently along the patient pathway, particularly between primary care optometry and hospital eye services. This cross-sector collaboration is essential to improve patient safety, access to treatment and service efficiency. Open standards are also vital for other eyecare tests, such as visual fields, and will also enable important digital research so the AI revolution can lead to improved and safer eyecare.”
Karl Hans Jeebaun, OSA director, CEO Opticare Innovations, added: “The Optical Suppliers Association emphasises the critical importance of establishing DICOM minimum requirements for suppliers in the optical industry. Just as the radiology sector has experienced remarkable technological advancements and improved interoperability through the DICOM standard. Implementing similar standards in optics will enhance the quality of care, streamline workflows, foster innovative solutions in optics using AI and underpins Oculomics, widening the sectors relevance across the medical sector. By ensuring that all suppliers meet these benchmarks, we can create a more cohesive and efficient landscape for optical healthcare.”
The steering group will engage with cross-sector stakeholders to ensure that the changes are “effective, easily adoptable and won’t place an unnecessary burden on primary or secondary eyecare providers”.
The work will inform investment, training and device procurement decisions across the eyecare sector, “leading to better patient experience and clinical outcomes in future”.
* Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) is the universal international standard for managing, storing, printing and transmitting medical image information.