The end-to-end service pathway is designed to be integrated with the hospital eye service, to support the identification, early intervention, and long-term management of patients with Dry Eye Disease (DED). The pathway aims to improve the efficiency and accuracy of case-finding for DED with management in primary eyecare wherever possible.
The pathway fits within the Optometry First framework, providing first contact care through to resolution, as well as continuity of care for those with a diagnosis requiring long term management and support, with an aim to support more people to self-manage their condition wherever practicable.
As is our usual process, LOCSU has worked collaboratively with several LOCs and their local stakeholder groups, most recently with the Northeast Dry Eye Guidelines Strategy Group lead by Consultant Ophthalmologist Prof. Figueiredo from Newcastle Eye Centre, who produce some excellent local resources. The LOCSU DED working group built on this work with the support of wider national stakeholders to develop a resource that all LOCs can use as a template to inform local DED pathway discussions with commissioners and Trusts.