Standards & Guidance

Diabetic eye disease is very common and there is a national screening programme to detect and refer treatable diabetic retinopathy to hospital eye services. The diabetic retinopathy (DR) standards in this document apply to how the hospital service provides care and interacts with the community and screening services to ensure safe care and adherence to national guidelines. The document should be read in conjunction the quality standards for medical retina services.  

Disorders of the external eye are very common (blepharitis, conjunctivitis, dry eye, etc.) and if not severe are largely dealt with in primary care, primary care ophthalmology, and general ophthalmic services. Corneal and external disease standards in this document is apply to care of the common conditions at the severe end of the spectrum and of more serious or unusual conditions such as corneal dystrophies, conditions requiring transplantation, vernal keratoconjunctivitis and cicatrising disorders which are more appropriately managed in a dedicated corneal and external eye disease service.

Cataracts are very common and, if not severe enough to require surgery, are largely dealt with in primary care, primary care ophthalmology, and general ophthalmic services. Cataract care standards in this document apply to the surgical pathway and are mainly aimed at providers of operative care

Adnexal disease standards in this document apply to care of the common conditions at the severe end of the spectrum and of more serious or unusual conditions such as orbital and eye lid tumours, lacrimal surgery and major eyelid surgery which are more appropriately managed in a dedicated adnexal disease service.

This quality standards document applies to urgent and emergency secondary ophthalmic care, and how that links up to community and primary care, to ensure safe care and adherence to national guidelines.

Advisory Appointment Committees, or AACs, are recruitment panels used when hiring consultants and specialty doctors in Trusts across the UK. The College works with Trusts and other NHS bodies to approve job descriptions and send a volunteer College adviser to provide College guidance on the suitability of the applicants for appointment. Here you can find information about becoming an AAC representative and what Trusts need to provide to the College for recruitment.

It is never easy to tell someone that we cannot offer a treatment for their sight loss, or to offer them registration. However, there are many simple strategies that can be incorporated into the way the ophthalmologist practices – even during the busiest clinic– that will ensure the people we encounter experience a smoother journey into accepting their low vision and living with it.

This guidance is intended for use by commissioners, providers, social care, and users of the AMD services, including their families and carers. The guidance sets out the principles and recommended minimum standards of care for AMD to decrease variations of care across AMD services in England and Wales. This is based on best practice, the latest available evidence and is in line with published NICE guidance including NG 82 and associated Technology Appraisals

The executive summary for the College's AMD commissioning guidance.