{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,22]],"date-time":"2025-12-22T10:55:44Z","timestamp":1766400944736,"version":"3.44.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"1","funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100012909","name":"The College of Optometrists","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100012909","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open Ophth"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2018,1,29]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The aim of this study was to monitor the activity and evaluate the clinical safety of a minor eye conditions scheme (MECS) conducted by accredited community optometrists in Lambeth and Lewisham, London.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Methods and analysis<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Optometrists underwent an accredited training programme, including attendance at hospital eye services (HES) clinics. Patients who satisfied certain inclusion criteria were referred to accredited MECS optometrists by their general practitioners (GPs) or could self-refer. Data were extracted from clinical records. A sample of MECS clinical records was graded to assess the quality of the MECS optometrists\u2019 clinical management decisions. Referrals to the HES were assessed by the collaborating ophthalmologists and feedback was provided.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>A total of 2123 patients (mean age 47 years) were seen over 12 months. Two-thirds of the patients (67.3%) were referred by their GP. The most common reasons for patients needing a MECS assessment were \u2018red eye\u2019 (36.7% of patients), \u2018painful white eye\u2019 (11.1%), \u2018flashes and floaters\u2019 (10.2%); 8.7% of patients had a follow-up appointment. Of the patients seen, 75.1% were retained in the community, 5.7% were referred to their GP and 18.9% were referred to the HES. Of the HES referrals, 49.1% were routine, 22.6% urgent and 28.3% emergency. Of the records reviewed, 94.5% were rated as appropriately managed; 89.2% of the HES referrals were considered appropriate.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The findings of this study indicate that optometrists are in a good position to work very safely within the remits of the scheme and to assess risk.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjophth-2017-000125","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,2,21]],"date-time":"2018-02-21T20:10:15Z","timestamp":1519243815000},"page":"e000125","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["Clinical safety of a minor eye conditions scheme in England delivered by community optometrists"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"3","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8215-2689","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Evgenia","family":"Konstantakopoulou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Optometry and Visual Science, Centre for Applied Vision Research, City University of London, London, UK"},{"name":"NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK"},{"name":"University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Robert A","family":"Harper","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"David F","family":"Edgar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Optometry and Visual Science, Centre for Applied Vision Research, City University of London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Genevieve","family":"Larkin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"King\u2019s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sarah","family":"Janikoun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guy\u2019s and St Thomas\u2019 NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"John G","family":"Lawrenson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Optometry and Visual Science, Centre for Applied Vision Research, City University of London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,2,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.1","unstructured":"NHS Digital. Hospital episode statistics. hscic.gov.uk\/hes (accessed 13 Feb 2017)."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.2","unstructured":"NHS Scotland. Information Services Division.\u00a0http:\/\/www.isdscotland.org\/ (accessed 13 Feb 2017)."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.3","unstructured":"NHS Wales. Sources of Data, 2017. http:\/\/www.wales.nhs.uk\/statisticsanddata\/sourcesofdata (accessed 13 Feb 2017)."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"320","DOI":"10.1038\/eye.2012.297","article-title":"Eye casualty services in London","volume":"27","author":"Smith","year":"2013","journal-title":"Eye"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.5","unstructured":"RNIB. Saving money, losing sight. 2013."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"771","DOI":"10.1038\/eye.2017.1","article-title":"Surveillance of sight loss due to delay in ophthalmic treatment or review: frequency, cause and outcome","volume":"31","author":"Foot","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eye"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/emj.2007.057604"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.292.6514.188"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1038\/eye.1995.10","article-title":"General practice referral letters to a regional ophthalmic accident and emergency department","volume":"9","author":"Kheterpal","year":"1995","journal-title":"Eye"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.10","first-page":"265","article-title":"An audit of the ophthalmic division of the accident and emergency department of the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin","volume":"94","author":"Fenton","year":"2001","journal-title":"Ir Med J"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/jech.47.5.382"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.12","unstructured":"Winkler F , Meads G . Primary Eye Care Development in Camden and Islington: Department of Health. 1998."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1475-1313.2010.00797.x"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1475-1313.2008.00614.x"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.15","unstructured":"Association of Optometrists. Primary Care Development Information pack. 1999."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2013-004781","article-title":"A qualitative study of stakeholder views regarding participation in locally commissioned enhanced optometric services","volume":"4","author":"Konstantakopoulou","year":"2014","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2016-011934","article-title":"Multi-stakeholder perspectives of locally commissioned enhanced optometric services","volume":"6","author":"Baker","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2016-014089","article-title":"Retrospective economic analysis of the transfer of services from hospitals to the community: an application to an enhanced eye care service","volume":"7","author":"Mason","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2016-011832","article-title":"Evaluation of a minor eye conditions scheme delivered by community optometrists","volume":"6","author":"Konstantakopoulou","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ophtha.2004.05.032"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.21","unstructured":"World Health Organisation. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10), 2015. http:\/\/apps.who.int\/classifications\/icd10\/browse\/2015\/en#\/VII (accessed 7 Sep 2015)."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.22","unstructured":"College of Optometrists. Clinical management guidelines. 2015 http:\/\/www.college-optometrists.org\/en\/professional-standards\/clinical_management_guidelines\/"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.23","unstructured":"LOC Suppport Unit. Primary Eyecare Assessment & Referral Service (PEARS). 2008."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.24","unstructured":"UK Census data. Lambeth, 2011. http:\/\/www.ukcensusdata.com\/lambeth-e09000022#sthash.E3Thpt1n.dpbs (accessed 2 Jun 2015)."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.25","unstructured":"UK Census data. Lewisham, 2011. http:\/\/www.ukcensusdata.com\/lewisham-e09000023#sthash.e0LRJVTU.dpbs (accessed 2 Jun 2015)."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.26","unstructured":"Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Collaborative\/Lambeth Business Support Unit. Improving Health in Lambeth, 2012. https:\/\/lpbcc.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/05\/3-0-14052012-improvinghealth-in-lambeth-ed-3.pdf (accessed 16 March 2017)."},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo.81.2.100","article-title":"The optometrist and primary eye care","volume":"81","author":"Ewbank","year":"1997","journal-title":"Br J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo.2008.144329"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.29","first-page":"34","article-title":"Auditing an acute eye pathway","volume":"22","author":"McCracken","year":"2013","journal-title":"Optometry Today"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.30","first-page":"24","article-title":"Auditing of a referral refinement service in Hull","volume":"25","author":"Greenwood","year":"2013","journal-title":"Optometry Today"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.31","first-page":"21","article-title":"An audit of the Primary Eye-care Acute Referral Scheme (PEARS) within NHS Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)","volume":"16","author":"Cottier","year":"2015","journal-title":"Optometry in Practice"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.32","first-page":"39","article-title":"Monitoring activity in a minor eye conditions service","volume":"4","author":"Craven","year":"2015","journal-title":"Optometry Today"},{"key":"2025090109350499000_3.1.e000125.33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthpol.2013.04.003"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open Ophthalmology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjophth-2017-000125","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,1]],"date-time":"2025-09-01T16:35:23Z","timestamp":1756744523000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjophth.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjophth-2017-000125"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,2]]},"references-count":33,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,2,20]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,2]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjophth-2017-000125"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjophth-2017-000125","relation":{},"ISSN":["2397-3269"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2397-3269"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018,2]]}}}