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Commissioning ophthalmic services for children

Guidance Description
Advice on Commissioning of Ophthalmic Services for Children – 2017 The prevention of vision and eye conditions and promotion of good visual health for children require very different approaches to those used in adult services.  The RCOphth’s Paediatric Sub-committee document, authored by Jugnoo Rahi, Advice on Commissioning of Ophthalmic Services for Children, will help inform commissioners of the key issues to consider when commissioning services for:

  • Children with conditions that cause (or may cause) visual impairment (VI), severe visual impairment (SVI) or blindness (BL) (WHO definition i.e. corrected acuity in better eye of LogMAR 0.5 or worse)
  • Children with common eye conditions that cause (or may cause) unilateral or milder reduction in vision
  • Children with isolated refractive error alone or those with mild/acute/self-limiting conditions (e.g. conjunctivitis)
NHS England reverses decision on use of adalimumab for children with uveitis – 2015 The use of adalimumab has been approved by NHS England for use in children with uveitis that threatens their sight, and for whom other treatments have proven ineffective. To review the updated policy document that outlines the arrangements for funding of uveitis treatment for the population in England, please visit the NHS England website.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/11/d12x02-paediatric-uveitis-anti-tnf.pdf

https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/11/adalimumab-pat-info-leaflet.pdf

Other related documents

Ophthalmic Services for Children
Paediatric_Ophthalmology_Quality_Standards_July_2013_2013_PROF_139
Retinopathy of Prematurity Guideline
Neonatal Ophthalmology Examination Record
UK National Screening Committee Policy on Vision Defects Screening in Children in the UK
Strabismus surgery for adults in the United Kingdom indications, evidence base and benefits

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