Community Glaucoma Service
Community Glaucoma Monitoring – information for service users
Who are you?
Primary Eyecare Services are a not-for-profit organisation that provides NHS eyecare services through local optical practices in many parts of England. Our website is here:
Primary Eyecare Services is the largest single primary and community eye care provider in England
What is this service?
If you have been asked to attend a Community Glaucoma monitoring appointment through Primary Eyecare it is because an eye care clinician involved in your care has decided that this is the most suitable way of monitoring your glaucoma-related condition.
Patients suspected of having glaucoma, raised eye pressure (ocular hypertension), or with stable low-risk glaucoma diagnoses are often monitored outside of hospital. This is to ensure you are seen on time and at a convenient local location.
Is the equipment in the opticians as good as the equipment at the hospital?
Yes. The optical practices involved in this service have met specific equipment requirements.
Can I still attend the hospital instead?
Usually this is not an option. Hospital services are very busy and are not always the best place for simpler low-risk cases. Your hospital knows about the community monitoring service and will only transfer patients who are suitable. We refer patients back if we find anything that requires hospital investigation or intervention. Please discuss this at your appointment if you have further concerns.
I attend a hospital clinic but would prefer to be seen in the community. Can this be arranged?
At your next appointment, ask the clinician if you would be suitable for community monitoring. Please be aware that some patients are better served in a hospital setting.
Can’t I just see my own optician, who isn’t registered to provide your service?
Yes and no. Community glaucoma monitoring is separate from routine sight testing. We encourage all patients to continue to attend their preferred optician for sight tests. Glaucoma monitoring appointments are quite different, and while there may be optical practices who have the equipment and expertise to provide this on a private basis, our service is probably the only NHS-commissioned community service for your area. If you want your optician to take part, please ask them to contact us.
There’s nothing wrong with my vision and I don’t want to come to glaucoma monitoring appointments. How do I leave the service?
We can usually discharge patients when appropriate, but please talk to one of our clinicians first. People with early or low-risk glaucoma-related conditions rarely have any symptoms, but there can still be a risk to your eyesight in the longer term. We wouldn’t keep monitoring your eye condition if we didn’t think it was necessary.
I have another question and would like to speak to someone.
For questions about your appointment arrangements, please contact your allocated optical practice directly. They should know about local parking, disabled access, and other local facilities.
Otherwise, please complete the contact form on our website and we will respond very soon:
Contact - get in touch via email or by completing our contact form (primaryeyecare.co.uk)