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Background: Documented inequalities in access to eye care for people with learning disabilities and/or autism are caused by poor uptake of primary eye care services, poor identification of eye problems, lack of signposting and reasonable adjustments of existing services, concerns about costs of care and the low priority historically given to these issues in eye care policy at a regional and national level. In 2019, the charity SeeAbility employed four eye care champions (ECCs) with lived experience of learning disability and/or autism to work in local communities in London and the Northwest of England. They provided peer‐to‐peer support on understanding the need for good eye health and engaged with policy makers, and learning disability, autism and eye care professionals at the local, regional and national levels to influence both the clinical practice of individual practitioners (within existing service/pathway models) and more widely to influence the commissioning of the Easy Eye Care pathway. This study explores the experiences of these ECCs. Methods: The study was conducted in April and May 2023. A case study approach was used to describe the experiences of the ECCs from March 2019 to March 2023. Data from structured interviews with the four ECCs and workload analysis were triangulated to provide a multifaceted understanding of this novel health promotion project. Findings: The ECCs found the role useful and reported that confidence in their practice and impact grew with time but they required ongoing support in the role. A good understanding of the promotional messages was reported. Developing a good network of contacts at an early stage, both people with learning disabilities and healthcare professionals, was key. Relationships with professionals were supportive and positive and a positive emotive response to their lived experience was reported in these interactions. Conclusions: From the perspective of the ECCs, the role is useful and beneficial. The work suggests some key recommendations for future development which include planning to build networks, support in presentation and communications skills and defining key messages and knowledge. Confidence of the ECCs builds with time in the role but also needs support the emotive impact of their lived experiences on audiences is highlighted. There is a need to evaluate how the programme is perceived by those who interact with it and how it changes behaviours which leads to better health outcomes. Accessible Summaries: People with learning disabilities are 10 times more likely than other people to have a problem with their eyes but less likely to get the eye care they need.This paper explains how people with a learning disability and/or autism are employed to tell other people with learning disabilities and/or autism, their supporters, health and care professionals and people who plan services about how important it is to get regular eye care. This job is an 'Eye Care Champion'.We share what the eye care champions did in their role, what worked well and what did not.We discuss how what we have learnt can help other people with learning disabilities and/or autism work as eye care champions and perhaps as champions for other areas of healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research suggests that there are challenges in the accessibility of eye care for children in England. This study explores the barriers and enablers to eye examinations for children under 5 years of age from the perspective of community optometrists in England. Methods: Optometrists working in community settings were invited to participate in virtual focus group discussions using an online platform based on a topic guide. The discussions were audio‐recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Themes were derived from the focus group data based on the study aim and research question. Results: Thirty optometrists participated in the focus group discussions. The overarching themes identified as barriers to eye examinations for young children in a community setting were as follows: 'Time and Money', 'Knowledge, Skills and Confidence', 'Awareness and Communication', 'Range of Attitudes' and 'Clinical Setting'. The key themes for enabling eye examinations for young children were as follows: 'Improving behaviour', 'Enhancing training and education', 'Enhancing eye care services', 'Raising awareness', 'Changes in professional bodies' and 'Balancing commercial pressures and health care'. Conclusion: Time, money, training and equipment are perceived by optometrists as key factors in providing an eye examination for a young child. This study identified a need for improved training and robust governance related to eye examinations for young children. There is a need for change within eye care service delivery such that all children, regardless of age and ability, are examined regularly, and by conducting these examinations, optometrists remain confident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although urgent primary eye care schemes exist in some areas of England, their current safety is unknown. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to quantify the clinical safety and effectiveness of a COVID‐19 Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES) across Luton, Bedford, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and Harrogate. Methods: Consenting patients with acute onset eye problems who had accessed the service were contacted to ascertain what the optometrist's recommendation was, whether this worked, if they had to present elsewhere and how satisfied they were with the CUES. Results: A total of 27% (170/629) and 6.3% (28/445) of patients managed virtually and in person, respectively, did not have their acute eye problem resolved. Regression analysis revealed that patients who attended a face‐to‐face consultation were 4.66 times more likely to be correctly managed [Exp (β) = 5.66], relative to those solely managed virtually. Optometrists' phone consultations failed to detect conditions such as stroke, intracranial hypertension, suspected space occupying lesions, orbital cellulitis, scleritis, corneal ulcer, wet macular degeneration, uveitis with macular oedema and retinal detachment. Of referrals to hospital ophthalmology departments, in total, 19% were false‐positives. Patients, however, were typically very satisfied with the service. Uptake was associated with socioeconomic status. Conclusion: The present study found that a virtual assessment service providing optometrist tele‐consultations was not effective at resolving patients' acute‐onset eye problems. The range and number of pathologies missed by tele‐consultations suggests that the service model in the present study was detrimental to patient safety. To improve this, optometrists should follow evidence based guidance when attempting to manage patients virtually, or in person. For example, patients presenting with acute‐onset symptoms of flashing lights and/or floaters require an urgent dilated fundus examination. Robust data collection on service safety is required on an ongoing basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Good vision during childhood is vital for visual, educational, and social development. Previous research highlights challenges in the accessibility of eye care for children. This study investigates the accessibility of primary eye care for young children with typical development and those with autism in England. Methods: A telephone survey was conducted using four hypothetical scenarios (a child aged 1, 3, 5 years and a 13‐year‐old with autism). Four hundred community optometric practices (100 different practices for each scenario) were contacted to explore the availability of an eye examination. The caller acted as a parent, asking about the availability of an eye examination for their child and raising concerns regarding the child. Key barriers and enablers to the accessibility of primary eye care were identified through an analysis of qualitative information. Results: Of the 400 practices, only three (<1%) stated that they do not perform eye examinations on children. Fifty‐six practices (14%) stated that they would examine a child at any age, the remainder (n = 341, 85%) specifying a minimum age at which they would perform eye examinations on children. Lack of 'communication' from the child and 'equipment' were identified as barriers to accessing eye care for young children. Eye care for children with autism was enabled by factors related to adaptability and appointment time. Conclusion: Our results suggest that communication and a lack of appropriate equipment for examining children are potential barriers to accessing primary eye care. No clear barriers were identified for an older child with autism. Eye examinations are more accessible for older children in these scenarios (aged 5 with typical development and 13 years with autism) than younger children (aged 1 and 3 years old). While the UK General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) terms do not permit contract holders to exclude categories of patients from a GOS eye exam, our findings suggest this is taking place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with significant learning disability have a much higher incidence of visual problems than their peers who are developing typically. Around half of children attending special school have a significant ocular and/or visual problem, yet only around 10% report ever accessing community optical practice and 43% (average age 10.7 years) have no reported history of any eye care. There is a much greater risk of significant refractive error, strabismus and eye movement disorders, cerebral visual impairment, disc anomalies and visual field defects in children with a learning disability. The authors aim to familiarise the reader with the prevalence and causes of learning disability and provide an outline of the more common ocular and non-ocular associations of learning disability and, where data are available, their prevalence. Suggestions for how optometrists can successfully meet the eye care needs of this vulnerable group in the community and special schools setting will be discussed. A best-practice model of special school eye care provision developed by SeeAbility in conjunction with the eye care professional bodies will be outlined. This model is set out in the Framework for Provision of Eye Care in Special Schools in England and is now recommended by Public Health England and NHS England, who have committed to establishing it in all English special schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is very little published work on the visual needs of homeless people. This paper is the first study to investigate the visual needs of homeless people in the UK. Although similar work has been done in other countries, this study is unique because the United Kingdom is the only country with a National Health Service which provides free healthcare at the point of access. This study analysed the refractive status of the sample used, determined the demographics of homeless people seeking eye care and established if there is a need for community eye health with access to free spectacle correction in East London.Methods: This retrospective case study analysed the clinical records of 1,141 homeless people using the Vision Care for Homeless People services at one of their clinics in East London. All eye examinations were carried out by qualified optometrists and, where appropriate, spectacles were dispensed to patients. Data captured included age, gender, ethnicity and refractive error. Results were analysed using two-sample t-tests with Excel and Minitab.Results: Demographics of age, gender and ethnicity are described. Spherical equivalents (SE) were calculated from prescription data available for 841 clinic users. Emmetropia was defined as SE-0.50DS to +1DS, myopia as SE < -0.50DS, and hyperopia as SE > +1DS. The majority of clinic users were male (79.2 %, n = 923). Approximately 80 % (n = 583) of clinic users were white, 10 % (n = 72) were 'black', 4 % (n = 29) 'Asian' and the remaining 5.6 % (n = 40) were of 'mixed ethnicity' and 'other' groups. The mean age of females attending the clinic was significantly lower than that of males (45.9 years, SD = 13.8 vs' 48.4 years, SD = 11.8) when analysed using a two-sample t-test (t (317) = 2.44, p = 0.02). One third of service users were aged between 50-59 years. Myopia and hyperopia prevalence rates were 37.0 % and 21.0 % respectively. A total of 34.8 % of homeless people were found to have uncorrected refractive error, and required spectacle correction.Conclusions: This study has identified a high proportion of uncorrected refractive error in this sample and therefore a need for regular eye examinations and provision of refractive correction for homeless people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Provision of eye care services for competitors and their support teams has become an integral part of the modern Olympic Games. Aim To describe the organisation of the eye clinic at London 2012 over a 4-week period and provide outline audit data. Methods The clinic employed multidisciplinary eye care professionals and utilised state-of-the-art instrumentation to provide the highest level of eye care. Results A total of 1406 patients from 154 countries attended the clinic over the Olympic Games, of which, 276 were competitors. All individuals received a comprehensive refractive and ocular health examination. Minor ocular injuries, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration were among the conditions detected and managed. Most patients attended the clinic to have their refractive status checked: 973 spectacles and 50 pairs of contact lenses were dispensed. Conclusions It is hoped that this account of the provision of eye care at London 2012 will assist with the planning of this service at future events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in microphthalmos and nanophthalmos. Setting: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: Eyes with an axial length (AL) less than 21.0 mm had elective phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. Results: One hundred three eyes (63 patients) were enrolled. The median AL was 20.65 mm (interquartile range [IQR], 20.26 to 20.86) and the median follow-up, 6.3 months. Complications occurred in 16 cases (15.5%). Zonular dehiscence, severe uveitis, and aqueous misdirection accounted for the majority of complications. Complication rates were 6 (7.3%) of 82 cases with an AL from 20.0 to 21.00 mm and 10 (47.6%) of 21 cases with an AL less than 20.0 mm (P=.0001). Only AL (odds ratio [OR], 0.52 per mm; P≤.0005) and abnormal intraocular pressure (IOP) of 22 mm Hg or more or on topical IOP control (OR, 10.1; P=.001) were significant independent risk factors for complications. For the cohort after adjusting for abnormal IOP, an AL less than 20.5 mm was associated with a 4 times higher odds of any complication (P=.028), an AL less than 20.0 mm was associated with a 15 times higher odds of any complication (P≤.0005), and an AL less than 19.00 mm was associated with a 21 times higher odds of any complication (P≤.0005). Conclusions: Phacoemulsification and IOL implantation in microphthalmos/nanophthalmos was challenging but appears safer than previously reported. A shorter AL and abnormal IOP were significant risk factors for complications. Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of five selected intensive care nursing interventions on the intracranial pressure (ICP) of moderate to severe traumatic brain-injured children in intensive care. The physiological effects of many nursing interventions in paediatric intensive care (PIC) are not known. This results in the lack of an evidence base for many PIC nursing practices. Prospective observational cohort study conducted over 3 years in a single tertiary referral paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in the North West of England. Five selected commonly performed nursing interventions were studied: endotracheal suctioning and manual ventilation (ETSMV), turning via a log-rolling (LR) approach, eye care, oral care and washing. These were studied in the first 72 h after injury. A total of 25 children with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury and intraparenchymal ICP monitoring in intensive care (aged 2-17 years) were enrolled. Both ETSMV and LR were associated with clinically and statistically significant changes in ICP from baseline to maximal ICP ( p = 0·001 ETSMV; p = < 0·001 LR) and from maximal post-ICP ( p = < 0·001 ETSMV; p = < 0.001 LR). Eye care, oral care or washing did not cause any clinically significant change in ICP from baseline. After decompressive craniectomy, none of the interventions caused significant changes in ICP. Only two of the five nursing interventions, endotracheal suctioning and LR, caused intracranial hypertension in moderate to severe traumatic brain-injured children, and after craniectomy, no care interventions caused any significant change in ICP. Knowledge about the physiological effects of many intensive care nursing interventions is lacking and this is magnified in paediatrics. This study provides a significant addition to the evidence base in this area and allows intensive care nurses to plan, implement and evaluate more effectively their nursing care for brain-injured children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the cost and effectiveness of the two most popular forms of eye care in intensive care, ocular lubricant (Lacrilube) and polyacrylamide hydrogel dressings (Geliperm); for the prevention of exposure keratopathy in the critically ill. A prospective randomised contralateral eye study was conducted at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Royal London Hospital, London, UK. Eighty eyes of 40 patients were recruited. Each patient received both Lacrilube and Geliperm allocated at random to different sides. A daily ophthalmology ward round was conducted. The outcome measures included the greatest palpebral aperture length, conjunctival oedema, and any exposure keratopathy. There was no statistically significant difference in the maximum corneal exposure score between the eyes treated with Lacrilube and Geliperm ( P = 0.38). No significant difference in degree of chemosis or palpebral aperture was identified. Our data suggest that Geliperm is as effective as Lacrilube in the prevention of exposure keratopathy in the critically ill. We also note that nursing staff must be fully trained in its application for eye care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: To investigate the quantity and severity of contact lens complications referred into Hull Royal Infirmary Ophthalmic A&E, their impact on resources and whether their management and treatment was appropriate. Methods: A survey was conducted over a 7-month period at Hull Royal Infirmary Ophthalmic A&E Unit. In this time 100 patients were enrolled, all completed a questionnaire including information about lens type and wearing schedule, and were photographed. All were examined, and where necessary treated by the Ophthalmic A&E doctor. Results: Contact lens complications accounted for 9.1% of the referrals into Ophthalmic A&E, a total of 323 appointments. Microbial keratitis was the most common diagnosis (22%), and Klebsiella and Pseudomonas the most common pathogen implicated. A case of Fusarium was also recorded. Optometrists/contact lens practitioners were the most common referral source (41%). Soft lens wearers were most common (67%), followed by silicone hydrogel wearers (28%) and least common were rigid gas permeable wearers (5%). Ten percent of the patients referred into the department were admitted. Conclusion: Education of the patient in their wear schedule and hygiene are still significant factors in their risk of developing contact lens complications. A closer working relationship needs to be fostered between Community Optometrists and Eye Departments to give the most appropriate management of contact lens related problems which would help alleviate undue burdens on Ophthalmic A&E. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study was to assess whether patients have their ocular drops correctly prescribed during non-ophthalmic admissions to hospital. A retrospective review of notes of patients who were admitted to hospital for general medical or surgical care, while on regular eye drops at the time of admission was performed. Twenty two patients were on regular ocular medication when admitted. Only seven out of 22 patients had their eye drops correctly prescribed. Furthermore, six patients had been prescribed topical beta-blockers, yet suffered from medical conditions that may have been aggravated by these drops. These findings demonstrate that the majority of patients on drops do not have their medication correctly prescribed during non-ophthalmic admissions to hospital. Also topical beta-blockers continue to be inappropriately prescribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]