Press Releases
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Amanda Hayhurst
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Schwartz Communications UK
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Press Statements - click here
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists - Statement in support of Trainees
The Multi Professional Education and Training Levy - 14th January, 2010
The Department of Health plans to pilot changes to the funding system known as the Multi Professional Education and Training Levy early in 2010. We fear that this review will lead to a reduction in the support given by the Department of Health for training. The College has developed the training structure, an excellent curriculum and a robust assessment mechanism, but we are concerned that economic and service pressures will prevent the delivery of appropriate training. It is the responsibility of the training providers to create and protect the training environment and allow the trainees time and opportunities to acquire the skills needed to become competent eye doctors.
We would encourage trainees who are finding their training curtailed to raise this with the local education providers (Clinical and Educational supervisors) in the first instance and then with their Deanery. The College has laid down the standards for a trainees' job plan and the curriculum provides a guide and timeline for trainee progression.
The care of patients demands a thorough system of training for future specialists
Download StatementCollege Response to The Daily Mail article published 23rd December 2009 - Stem cell treatment allows the blind to see again - 23rd December, 2009
The use of stem cells to treat blinding corneal diseases is an exciting new development. This will help patients who have stem cell deficiency on the surface of their eyes, resulting in scar formation on the cornea.
We await the results from larger studies.View the Daily Mail article
College Response to The Daily Mail article published 19th December 2009 - The one hour treatment that cures blindness - 23rd December, 2009
The new treatment with localised radiation treatment to the back of the eye shows promise in treating wet AMD, but is yet to complete trials which will allow us to make robust recommendations on its effectiveness. The radiation treatment is currently being combined with injections of ranibizumab. As such the injections are not eliminated completely, but reduced.
It is important as well to understand that any new treatment will benefit only those who develop wet AMD recently (approximately 26,000 per year in the UK), and not those who have had it for several years. As such the treatment will not benefit 250,000 people in the UK. Furthermore, this treatment will be performed only by ophthalmologists trained to undertake vitreo-retinal surgery.
We await the results of the trials.View the Daily Mail article
Joint Group on NICE Glaucoma Guideline publishes Guidance - 17th December, 2009
The Joint Group on NICE Glaucoma Guideline has today published guidance on the referral of Glaucoma suspects by community optometrists. This has been issued jointly by the College of Optometrists and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and is endorsed by the Association of Optometrists and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians.
The Guidance, which comes into effect immediately, clarifies the referral criteria including the use of non-contact tonometers in this context. It relates to asymptomatic patients with suspected glaucoma only. Those with symptoms should be treated according to current protocols and patients suspected of having other previously undiagnosed conditions should be referred as appropriate.
Dr Cindy Tromans, Chair of the group, consultant optometrist and Vice President of the College of Optometrists comments:
"The main aim of the Joint Group was to produce supplementary professional guidance about glaucoma case finding in the light of the NICE Guideline. We wanted to get agreement across the sector as soon as possible, in order to minimise the continuing effect of the NICE Guideline on Glaucoma on referrals into the Hospital Eye Service.
"The joint working group was looking to formulate a way forward which would ensure that the NICE Guideline was implemented in a way that delivered the best possible care for Glaucoma patients. The publication of the joint guidance today is a critical first step."
Professor Stephen Vernon, consultant ophthalmologist representing The Royal College of Ophthalmologists comments:
"We are delighted to have reached agreement on this Joint Guidance, which provides further clarity to the referral criteria. This now gives all those affected by the recent increase in referrals the opportunity to work together to maximise the service that community optometrists and the Hospital Eye Service are able to deliver to the public."
The Group will continue its work in early 2010.
For further information please contact:
Ian Humphreys, Director of Member Services and Communications
The College of Optometrists
Tel: 020 7766 4350 or e-mail ian.humphreys@college-optometrists.org
Kathy Evans, Chief Executive
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists
Tel: 020 7935 0702 or e-mail sara.davey@rcophth.ac.uk
Note to Editors:
Membership of the Joint Group
- Cindy Tromans, Chair (College of Optometrists)
- David Garway-Heath (Royal College of Ophthalmologists)
- Alan Rotchford (Royal College of Ophthalmologists)
- Stephen Vernon (Royal College of Ophthalmologists)
- Geoff Roberson (Association of Optometrists)
- Trevor Warburton (Association of Optometrists)
- Jo Mullin (College of Optometrists)
Paul Carroll (Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians) was the alternate on occasions where Geoff Roberson or Trevor Warburton could not attend
Derek Busby, representing the Department of Health for England was an observer.Download StatementDownload GuidanceFirst Meeting of the Joint Group on NICE Glaucoma Guideline - 25th September, 2009
The College is grateful to Professor Stephen Vernon who is leading the College's contribution to the Joint Group on the NICE Glaucoma Guideline. The role of the ophthalmologist is pivotal to patient care.
The first meeting of the Joint Group on NICE Glaucoma Guideline took place last week (15 September), chaired by Dr Cindy Tromans, consultant optometrist at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and Vice President of the College of Optometrists.
The group agreed its terms of reference which puts patients at the heart of its work. The main aim of the joint group is to produce supplementary guidance about glaucoma case finding in the light of the NICE Guideline.
Dr Tromans comments, "All those on the group, who represent the various eye care professionals, want a quick win to address the pressing problem of referrals. The group aims to draft new guidance as soon as possible, which will maximise the service that community optometrists and the Hospital Eye Service are able to deliver to the public.
"Building on the initial discussions, this group now gives all those affected by the recent increase in referrals the opportunity to work together to achieve a joint solution."
Hosted by the College of Optometrists, the group comprises representatives from the Department of Health for England, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, College of Optometrists, Association of Optometrists and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians.
Over the next few weeks the members will be working towards final joint guidance, which will in turn be adopted by the College of Optometrists. The group will meet again at the beginning of November, when it is planned to reach agreement on the first early release of its recommended guidance.
Under its terms of reference, the group will also consider current evidence and, expert opinion about the accuracy and relevance of readings from non-contact tonometers and other contact tonometers in comparison with those from the Goldmann Applanation Tonometer, specified by the NICE Guideline.New Treatment for Dry Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - 6th July, 2009
We are encouraged by the experimental work by Professor John Marshall which suggests that the ageing process in the macular may be reduced by 'polishing' Bruch's Membrane (the layer under the retina). However, this is only experimental at the moment and not clinically available until further work has been carried out to prove the concept.Download Press ReleasePatients at risk of losing their sight need to be told they could develop visual halluncinations - 13th November, 2008
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and The Macular Disease Society are jointly calling for all eye doctors to warn patients with macular degeneration they may develop visual hallucinations - Charles Bonnet Syndrome.Patients with sight-destroying conditions such as macular degeneration should be advised, at the time they are diagnosed with a sight diminishing condition, that they have at least a 20% chance of developing visual hallucinations. These can often be disturbing and can lead patients to believe they are suffering from psychosis or dementia, say doctors and patient groups.
It is thought that up to 60% of patients, with severe vision loss, develop Charles Bonnet Syndrome, which is caused by a lack of visual stimuli and does not indicate any kind of mental dysfunction. Normally sighted people could develop Charles Bonnet Syndrome if they were blindfolded for long enough.
It is thought that Charles Bonnet Syndrome occurs when visual images are no longer channelled into the brain, which goes on to replace real images with its own stored images.
The chairman of the scientific committee of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Mr Winfried Amoaku, says: "A significant number of medical professionals and the general public have inadequate knowledge about visual hallucinations caused by eye problems such as macular degeneration."
"The hallucinations often involve seeing people's faces, landscapes, people or objects which aren't there, as well as patterns, grids and brickwork. These can be very frightening."
"Working with The Macular Disease Society, and psychiatrist Dr Dominic ffytche from the Institute of Psychiatry, we are aiming to raise awareness of Charles Bonnet Syndrome. We want to ensure that patients are aware of the link between visual hallucinations and their sight loss. In our experience forewarning and knowledge of the possibility of hallucinations helps patients cope when they occur and allows them to realize that this indicates only that there is a functional problem with their sight, and not a problem with their mind."
"Each ophthalmologist will use their own judgement and knowledge of the patient, to judge how best to break the news about the possibility that patients may develop visual hallucinations."
Mr Tom Bremridge, chief executive of The Macular Disease Society, says: "The campaign was inspired by one of our members, a patient in Scotland, who was misdiagnosed after she went to A&E complaining of her visual hallucinations. This lady, who is in her 80s, was referred to a psychiatrist by the A&E doctor and spent six months wrongly assuming she was suffering from dementia."
The Macular Disease Society has been interviewing members in detail about their experiences of Charles Bonnet Syndrome. Of 35 patients who approached the Society to discuss their experiences, none was informed by their doctor or optician of the possibility they might develop Charles Bonnet Syndrome, before they experienced visual hallucinations. Very few of these patients were told by their doctor or optician about the Syndrome after developing symptoms and all 35 said they would have been relieved to know what was causing the visual hallucinations.
Mr Bremridge said: "Clearly we are aiming to educate health professionals as well as the public that having visual hallucinations without warning can compound the stress of sight loss especially if people are scared to mention it to friends and family for fear of being thought to be imagining things."
Dr Dominic ffytche, a senior lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatrists who is an expert in Charles Bonnet Syndrome, says: "There is no evidence that being forewarned would cause unnecessary anxiety, people prefer to be told."
"At least 10% of people with Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) get Charles Bonnet Syndrome. The small number of studies conducted in eye clinics show around a 10-20% prevalence of Charles Bonnet Syndrome. One study looked at patients with severe visual loss [caused by a range of different eye conditions] and this figure was closer to 50-60%."
"We think around 100,000 patients have Charles Bonnet Syndrome as a side effect of their Macular Disease."
The Macular Disease Society runs a telephone helpline, which is available to all macular patients and their families. Please telephone 0845 241 2041. Lines are open 9-5, Monday to Friday.
End.
Download Press ReleasePast Press Releases
27th August, 2008 - NICE Guidance for Wet AMD 'A Delayed Opportunity'
21st April, 2008 - UK Vision Strategy launched to 'address' inequalities' which lead to unnecessary blindness
2nd April, 2008 - Royal College of Ophthalmologists' Press Statement on the Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the use of anti-VEGF drugs for Treating Wet Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
View the FAD on the NICE website
17th January, 2008 - Royal College of Ophthalmologists backs Tooke Inquiry recommendations after last year's doctor training failures
18th December, 2007 - Second NICE consultation on new AMD treatments is better on key points, but contains important loopholes
7th December, 2007 - Letter in response to the Step by Step Commissioning Community Eye Care Services document
13th December, 2007 - Important message from your ophthalmic leaders about commissioning services
9th August, 2007 - NICE to hold second ACD on antiVEGF Therapies
30th July, 2007 - Use of Avastin for treating wet AMD
19th July, 2007 - College Response to the Healthcare Commission's Inquiry into Independent Sector Treatment Centres (IS-TCs)
12th July, 2007 - Reply to the letter addressed to the Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP
14th June, 2007 - NICE guidance on new drugs for age related macular degeneration is unacceptable, say ophthalmologists
22nd May 2007- Half of specialists do not have access to new anti-blindness drugs
27th April 2007 - Response to Body Politic - Article by Nigel Hawkes (BMJ)
10th May 2007 - Letter to the Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP from the President
21st February 2007 - Re-certification of doctors & Department of Health website
6th February 2007 - 90% of teen smokers say they would quit if they developed early signs of blindness
17th January 2007 - General Ophthalmic Services Review
30th January 2007 - Patients with Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration
5th December 2006 - College response to article in The Times newspaper on Saturday 2nd December 2006 & Published College Response in The Times - Tuesday 5 December 2006 & Article in The Times - Saturday 2 December 2006
10th November 2006 - Crisis in training ophthalmologists has become critical
24th October 2006 - New treatment for age-related macular degeneration increases pressure on hard pressed eye units
18th September 2006 - Smoking and Thyroid Eye Disease linked
9th September 2006 - Royal College of Ophthalmologists' celebrates the life's work of a pioneer in vision correction surgery
25th July 2006 - College Response to IS-TC Inquiry Report Health Committee Report on IS-TCs
20th July 2006 - UV Radiation and your Eyes
31st May 2006 - 
Smoking causes Blindness
30th May 2006 - Statement on Smoking and Blindness and the Event at the European Parliament
28th April 2006 - Letter from the President in The Times newspaper refuting the claim that IS-TCs are more efficient than NHS Units & http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-2154621,00.html
11th January 2006 - Letter to Lord Warner, Minister for Health from the President
6th November 2005 - Independent Treatment Centres (IS-TCs)
7th September 2005 - Smoking and Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
16th August 2005 - Cataract surgery has excellent outcomes and makes an enormous difference to patient's lives.Over 300,000 cataract operations were undertaken by NHS staff in England last year; making it the most commonly performed elective operation in the country.
27th May 2005 - The Royal College of Ophthalmologists responds to a comment by Mr John Williams, Director of Public Services at the Confederation of British Industry in the Guardian Newspaper, Friday 27th May 2005
7th January 2005 - Response to the Department of Health's press release and publication on Treatment Centres
December 2004 - Response to Interventional Procedure Consultation Guidelines on Laser in situ keratomileusis for the treatment of refractive errors in the NHS
Statement on N-acetyl-carnosine Eye Drops
"The evidence for the effectiveness of N-acetyl-carnosine eye drops is based on experience on a small number of cases carried out by a Russian research team. To date, the research has not been corroborated and the results replicated by others. The long-term effect is unknown. We do not feel the evidence base for the safety is in any way sufficient to recommend its us. More research is needed."
Mr David Wong, Chairman, Scientific Committee
"Bright Eyes"
Bright Eyes is not and may not be sold as a cure for cataracts. Bright Eyes is not licensed in Britain for use as a medicinal product but is sold as lubricating eye-drops to relieve tired and sore eyes.
Page updated 15th January 2010 (SAD)