Read the latest RCOphth news updates and guidance here.
The College has published a new clinical guideline on idiopathic full thickness macular holes, a relatively common and visually disabling condition. The guideline, which was produced by a guideline development group chaired by Professor David Steel, aims to evaluate and summarise the clinical evidence relating to the management of patients with the condition.
The College has produced a draft clinical guideline on idiopathic full thickness macular holes, which is now open for consultation. College members have the opportunity to contribute to and influence the form of the final guideline.
A new NICE guideline, published this week, covers managing and monitoring diabetic retinopathy – including non-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular oedema - in people under the care of hospital eye services
An updated clinical guideline, Abusive Head Trauma and the Eye in Infancy, is now available. It’s an important evidence-based document that updates the previous guideline published in 2013.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists have, through a guideline development group (GDG) chaired by Mr Patrick Watts, produced a clinical guideline on Abusive Head Trauma and the Eye. A draft version of this guideline has now been released for consultation and the College would welcome any comments or observations on the content, format or recommendations.
NHS England has published guidance detailing how trusts can reduce instances of ‘did not attends’ (DNAs) for outpatient appointments. RCOphth Policy Advisor David Murray summarises what’s in the guidance, how it might affect ophthalmology services and what else is needed to tackle outpatient backlogs in ophthalmology.
NHS Scotland is developing plans to support eye units to increase the number of cataracts performed per four-hour session. RCOphth is inputting into this work to ensure the most appropriate pathways are developed and clinicians and eye units receive the support they need. RCOphth Policy Manager Jordan Marshall explains the scope of the work and future timelines.
NHS England has recently published a suite of decision support tools. The tools cover varying conditions and include Making a decision about cataracts, Making a decision about open-angle glaucoma and Making a decision about wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), along with guidance on how to use them and evaluating the impact.
Concise Practice Points (CPP) provide a clear description and appraisal of the scientific evidence and behind clinical recommendations and have an explicit link between the recommendations made and the scientific evidence where high quality scientific and clinical evidence must take precedence over expert judgment.
The Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC) recognises variation in service provision and availability for children with vision deficit picked up through school vision screening in England.
