High quality care essentially describes care which achieves good outcomes for patients through the provision of evidence based healthcare delivery (clinical effectiveness), which minimises harm (patient safety) and which provides the patient with a positive, personal experience of care (patient experience).
The College promotes quality and safety in all aspects of ophthalmology and produces many standards and guidelines to support this as well as the following clinical governance guides.
Safety Alerts
- EyeCee One and EyeCee One Crystal Preloaded Lenses (Feb 2023) – The MHRA has released a National Patient Safety alert regarding cases of high intraocular pressure (IOP) following cataract surgery using preloaded EyeCee One and EyeCee One Crystal lenses. The College has worked with some of the departments affected to develop some consensus points regarding implementing the alert and managing patients experiencing high IOPs.
- Mydriasert ophthalmic pellet for pupil dilation (Nov 2022) – Recent evaluation of National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) data has shown a significant number of reports to the system related to the use of the Mydriasert ophthalmic pellet for pupil dilation. This includes reports of the Mydriasert pellet being left in situ post-surgery and not being found during post-operative checks.
- Retinal vein occlusions post COVID vaccination (May 2021) – The College had considered the recent reports of an increased incidence of Central Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) in the UK and anecdotal cases of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in the immediate period (28 days) subsequent to COVID vaccination.
- Boron additives in Chloramphenicol drops safety alert (April 2021) – In response to an Annex to the European Commission guideline on ‘Excipients in the labelling and package leaflet of medicinal products for human use’ (Reference: EMA/CHMP/302620/2017), manufacturers have updated product information to include specific warnings possible effects of boron-containing excipients on fertility.
- Cataract related CFTER for cystic fibrosis – Advice for clinicians. At this time, based on the data received, there is no evidence to support a recommendation for wholesale adoption of a hospital eye service screening programme for cataracts in children who are prescribed CFTR modifiers containing Ivacaftor.
- Lucentis® 10 mg/ml pre-filled syringe – plunger on syringe too stiff – Direct Healthcare Professional Communication (DHPC) Lucentis® (ranibizumab) 10 mg/ml pre-filled syringe – Updated November 2019
- Shortages of Mitomycin C – It is unclear how serious this is in terms of length of the shortage and existing supplies held by departments. Please see the MHRA Central Alert System for more information. We will update Members if we received further information.
- Allergan’s Xen 45 glaucoma surgical drainage device – Allergan has contacted the RCOphth to provide a follow up regarding the hold on XEN 45. Allergan has reached out to regulatory agencies, and is working to initiate a voluntary recall of affected lots of XEN 45.
- Particulate matter in syringes for intravitreal injections – July 2019
The College has been approached by a unit concerned about particulate matter discovered in syringes for intravitreal injections. - Zeiss Lucia 611P intraocular lens safety alert – April 2019
The College has been made aware of two ophthalmic units with a run of a small number of cases of fibrin membrane deposition in association with the Zeiss Lucia 611P intraocular lens. - Do not use apraclonidine in infants below six months of age – February 2019
The College has recently received a report from NHS Improvement of a severe adverse reaction in a six month old child with anisocoria who had been administered apraclonidine 1% to help exclude Horner syndrome. - Do not use nitrous oxide when there is gas in an operated eye – December 2018
The patient safety team at NHS Improvement has reported an incident involving a patient who had undergone retinal detachment repair and had a gas bubble in their eye while the anaesthetist did not seem to be aware that the use of nitrous oxide was contraindicated. - Ozurdex recall alert – October 2018
Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland is recalling numerous batches of Ozurdex due to the possibility that a single loose silicone particle of approximately 300 microns in diameter may become detached from the needle sleeve during administration of the implant and may be delivered into the eye along with the implant. - Detachment of cannulas during ophthalmic surgery – April 2018
The NHS Improvement national patient safety team have informed the College of the continued trend of incidents involving issues with detachment of cannulas during ophthalmic surgery (cannula-associated ocular injury, COI). - Intracameral cefuroxime – May 2018
The College recommends that for those using a non licensed product, users should check the SmPCs and avoid use of any product which specifically cautions against intraocular use. - Diabetic control and safe cataract surgery – May 2018
The College has received queries from members to clarify whether there is a specific cut off for glycaemic control, either measured via HbA1C or a blood glucose level on the day, beyond which it is unsafe to proceed with cataract surgery.
