The Collaborative Eye Care Award: Vote Now!

Back in August, The New Optometrist – in partnership with The Ophthalmologist – announced the creation of The Collaborative Eye Care Award to recognize and reward projects that aim to close the gap between optometry and ophthalmology in the UK and drive real change in the eye care space.

Since then we’ve received a host of exciting entries – projects that are committed to creating a joined-up service and easing the NHS burden. They are:

1. A pilot scheme in Belfast for referring patients to IP optometrists in the community.

2. The collaboration of primary care optical practices and Moorfields Hospital in Croydon.

3. The Royal National Institute for the Blind’s (RNIB) Eye Care Support Pathway.

4. The cloud-based web application PocketEye – for secure communication, referral streamlining, and triage of eye conditions between primary and secondary eye care.

5. The University of Manchester and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital’s innovative NHS satellite glaucoma teaching clinic.

6. Rayner and Spa Medica’s efforts to treat, support, and educate patients with dry eye symptoms.

7. The FiCOS (Fife Community Ophthalmology Service) scheme, allowing a range of acute care patients with conditions such as acute anterior uveitis and corneal foreign bodies to be seen in a community closer to their home.

8. Edwards & Walker Opticians’ work with the local Hospital Eye Service to triage the referrals and allow 200 new pediatric patients to be seen in the community.

For more information on the projects – and to cast your vote, click here.