More eye conditions could be treated on the high street under new rules to allow optometrists and opticians access to more medicines.
The Government will give the eye experts a greater role in diagnosing patients and prescribing drugs for the likes of dry eye, severe allergy and bacterial conjunctivitis.
Optometrists and opticians would be allowed to issue patients with a prescription to take to a local pharmacy – or supply or administer the drugs themselves in an emergency.
The move is aimed at shifting more care into the community and easing pressure on GPs.
Ministers have launched a 12 week consultation on the proposed changes to laws on who can prescribe controlled medication for eye care.
Health minister Stephen Kinnock, said: ‘Through our Plan for Change we are shifting more care out of hospital and into the community – getting care to patients’ doorsteps by empowering healthcare professionals in communities.
‘These proposed changes would unlock the full potential of optometrists and contact lens opticians, cutting red tape and making it easier for patients to get treatment for minor eye conditions, such as allergic conjunctivitis, without the need to visit their GP or hospital unnecessarily – freeing up appointments in hospital and primary care.’
Health minister Stephen Kinnock
The medicines include acetylcysteine, which is used to treat tear film abnormalities in the management of dry eye where usual methods are not working.
Diclofenac sodium could be prescribed for pain and inflammation after cataract surgery, and to treat seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
And azithromycin could be used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis alongside the strong antibiotic gentamicin, which can also be used for other infections.
Other drugs that could be prescribed include atropine sulphate and homatropine hydrobromide, which are used to relax the eye to enable accurate eye tests.
This is useful for children and could prevent youngsters needing to go to hospital for a sight test.
Elsewhere, drugs for allergic eye conditions include azelastine hydrochloride, ketotifen, olopatadine and lodoxamide, while other medicines could also be given in an emergency for patients with suspected acute angle closure glaucoma who would otherwise need to go to hospital.
A string of other medicines could also help optometrists and contact lens opticians with the removal of foreign bodies from the eye.
Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu, clinical adviser at the College of Optometrists, said: ‘Enabling optometrists to supply a wider range of prescription-only medicines will ensure more patients receive effective treatment for many common minor eye conditions at their local optical practice, without having to be referred to a prescriber or wait for a GP appointment.
Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu, clinical adviser at the College of Optometrists
‘If these proposals are agreed and implemented, optometrists can continue to play a key role in reducing the burden on A&E departments and GPs, who often lack the specialist ophthalmic training and equipment needed to handle most eye conditions.
‘By expanding the number of medicines that all optometrists can supply to patients, optometrists’ core skills will be better utilised to improve patient outcomes and experiences, particularly where commissioned acute eye care services are available.
‘We urge our members, all healthcare professionals and the public to support these proposals to improve eye care in the community.’
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