High street optometrists are set to gain expanded powers to treat common and emergency eye conditions under new government proposals.
The changes aim to shift more healthcare into community settings and alleviate pressure on general practitioners.
Under the proposed rules, optometrists and contact lens opticians would assume a significantly broader role in diagnosing patients and prescribing essential medications.
This includes drugs for issues such as dry eye, severe allergies, and bacterial conjunctivitis. They would be authorised to sign off on prescription-only medicines in emergencies or for prescriptions to be filled at local pharmacies.
Among the specific medications that could be prescribed is acetylcysteine, used to manage tear film abnormalities in dry eye cases where standard treatments are ineffective.
Diclofenac sodium could be prescribed for pain and inflammation following cataract surgery, as well as for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
Additionally, azithromycin may be used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis, potentially alongside the strong antibiotic gentamicin, which also addresses other infections.
Other drugs, such as atropine sulphate and homatropine hydrobromide, which relax the eye for accurate testing, are also included in the expanded prescribing list.
This is useful for children and could prevent youngsters needing to go to hospital for a sight test.
Elsewhere, drugs for allergic eye conditions include azelastine hydrochloride, ketotifen, olopatadine and lodoxamide, while other medicines could also be given in an emergency for patients with suspected acute angle closure glaucoma who would otherwise need to go to hospital.
A string of other medicines could also help optometrists and contact lens opticians with the removal of foreign bodies from the eye.
Health minister Stephen Kinnock, said: “Through our Plan for Change we are shifting more care out of hospital and into the community – getting care to patients’ doorsteps by empowering healthcare professionals in communities.
“These proposed changes would unlock the full potential of optometrists and contact lens opticians, cutting red tape and making it easier for patients to get treatment for minor eye conditions, such as allergic conjunctivitis, without the need to visit their GP or hospital unnecessarily – freeing up appointments in hospital and primary care.”
Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu, clinical adviser at the College of Optometrists, said: “Enabling optometrists to supply a wider range of prescription-only medicines will ensure more patients receive effective treatment for many common minor eye conditions at their local optical practice, without having to be referred to a prescriber or wait for a GP appointment.
“If these proposals are agreed and implemented, optometrists can continue to play a key role in reducing the burden on A&E departments and GPs, who often lack the specialist ophthalmic training and equipment needed to handle most eye conditions.
“By expanding the number of medicines that all optometrists can supply to patients, optometrists’ core skills will be better utilised to improve patient outcomes and experiences, particularly where commissioned acute eye care services are available.
“We urge our members, all healthcare professionals and the public to support these proposals to improve eye care in the community.”
