Study_shows_eye_care_in_local_clinics_cuts_patient_wait_times_and_optimises_NHS_resources

Local Optometrists Could Solve the NHS Eye Care Crisis According to New Study

Fresh research finds optometrists could hold the key to ending the NHS’ chronic long wait times—and save sight along the way.

For years, the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has been battling long waiting times for hospital eye services (HES)—but those days could be over. Fresh research analyzing community health dynamics in Wales has shown that there is a way to drastically reduce wait times while optimizing NHS resources, and optometrists are the key.1

Published in Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, the study claims that that solution to capacity constraints plaguing the ophthalmology clinics in the UK and around the world could be right on your local high street. Researchers have found that shifting routine eye care to community optometry clinics—led by highly trained optometrists—could transform how the NHS manages eye health.

This innovative model was tested in three health boards in Wales, with such impressive results that it has since been adopted nationwide. 

The study results? Dramatic improvements in patient care, wait times and resource efficiency.1

From weeks to days 

For many patients, waiting for hospital eye appointments can feel like a ticking clock, especially when conditions like nAMD require urgent treatment to prevent vision loss. The study found that patients referred to local optometry clinics waited just 4–5 days for nAMD assessments and 5 days for glaucoma monitoring.1

Compare this to the long delays often faced in hospital eye services (HES), and it’s clear that this community-based model is a game-changer for timely care.

Solving the NHS backlog crisis

One of the most encouraging—and surprising—statistics from the study is the difference in waiting lists. Local clinics reduced backlogs to just three patients waiting for nAMD care and five for glaucoma. In contrast, traditional HES systems reported waiting lists of 216 and 5,691 patients, respectively. 

This dramatic reduction doesn’t just free up hospital resources—it restores hope for patients who’ve been left waiting far too long for essential care.

*Data includes estimates for missing data.

A better use of NHS resources?

Another important key insight from the study is how this model frees up consultant ophthalmologists in hospitals. By empowering community optometrists to handle routine cases, hospital specialists can focus their time and expertise on complex and urgent cases. This redistribution of workload optimizes healthcare resources and ensures that every patient gets the attention they need.

Dr Mari Jones of Swansea University’s Centre for Health Economics said: “By shifting eye care into community settings, they have shown that patients can receive timely, expert care close to home, while hospital specialists focus on complex cases. This model not only enhances patient outcomes but also optimizes resources across the NHS.”

Higher-quality care, closer to home

The research also found that local clinics deliver the same quality of care as hospital eye services, with patients reporting comparable experiences. The added convenience of receiving expert treatment at a nearby optometry clinic—without the stress of long commutes or hospital parking woes—makes this model a win-win for everyone involved.

“Currently, patients are at risk of losing their sight because of delays waiting for hospital eye appointments. These research findings give hope that there is a solution on every local high street,” said lead researcher Professor Barbara Ryan of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

Wales has demonstrated that local-first solutions can not only work but also lead to transformative changes in how healthcare is delivered.

And the message is clear: local clinics hold the key to solving the NHS’s long-standing challenges in eye care. Wales has shown us what’s possible—now it’s time for the rest of the UK to follow suit.

References

  1. Ryan B, Jones M, Anderson P, et al. Hospital to community in Wales: What is the value of optometrists playing a greater role in managing neovascular AMD and glaucoma in primary care? Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2025;45(1):280-293.
  2. Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times Data 2022-23. NHS website. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2022-23/ Accessed on February 4, 2025.
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