Standards and 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.

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.

It is never easy to tell someone that treatment cannot be offered 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 encountered in clinic experience a smoother journey into accepting their low vision and living with it.

Both the range and sophistication of ophthalmic imaging technologies have increased rapidly in recent years. This document provides an overview of the current state of commercially available ophthalmic imaging technologies and their clinical applications as things stand at the time of publication and readers should note this is a rapidly changing field.

This document represents the expert consensus, based on available evidence and national guidance, of the Paediatric Sub-committee of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) regarding best practice and fundamental standards for children’s ophthalmic services.