Standards and guidance

Our range of high-quality guidance helps to maintain standards in the planning, practice and commissioning of patient care. Our clinical guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations across all aspect of care or of eye conditions; Concise Practice Points make recommendations for less frequent and targeted clinical situations, succinctly describing the scientific and clinical evidence alongside expert input to enhance clinician and patient decision making. Our Commissioning guidance supports eye units to develop services to meet local population needs.

The role of day one post-operative review in modern vitrectomy surgery

In the last 20 years there has been a rapid development of vitreo-retinal (VR) surgical technology making surgery safer with improved post-operative outcomes. As a result, the majority of vitrectomy surgery in the UK is now carried out as day case surgery, under local anaesthesia and with transconjunctival narrow gauges systems. This document critically appraises the published literature to produce evidence-based recommendations for surgeons considering whether POD1 review after vitrectomy surgery is required specifically for documentation and treatment of significantly raised IOP.

Post-operative macular oedema (PMO)

There is a lack of uniformity in clinical practice in the management of PMO including in mode of treatment, therapeutic agents, the duration of treatment and escalation for persistent PMO. This reflects the limited evidence on the management of PMO. This document reviews the published literature on management of PMO and presents recommendations on case identification, referral to secondary care, initial treatment and management of refractory cases.

High Flow Cataract Surgery

This document highlights the necessary steps, using real world examples, to develop high flow cataract services within hospitals. The key components that underpin high flow operating, whether in complex or lower complexity cases and whether in hospitals or standalone units, are described in this updated guidance.

Sustainable cataract surgery

Guidance to help eye care teams make cataract surgery more sustainable - without compromising patient care.

Joint Care? Report on the care received by children & young people diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) recently published findings from a national enquiry into JIA care. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists supports the report’s eight recommendations, and notes a role for UK ophthalmologists in supporting the delivery of some of these recommendations.

Idiopathic Full Thickness Macular Holes

Clinical guideline on idiopathic full thickness macular holes. This guideline aims to evaluate and summarise the clinical evidence relating to the management of people with iFTMH, that can be used nationally and internationally to benefit patients.

Referral pathways for adult ocular tumours

This document provides advice to clinicians on referring suspected ocular oncology cases to the nationally designated ocular oncology centres.

Professional Standards for Refractive Surgery

This document is targeted at surgeons and health care professionals involved in the care of patients undergoing refractive surgery. We emphasise throughout that surgeons are ultimately responsible for the safe delivery of patient care.

Clinical datasets

RCOphth datasets recommending the variables to be collected and standardisation of data content, meaning and format for electronic use. Once approved, EMR systems will need to conform to this standard.