A new community glaucoma service has been launched in Scotland so patients can be cared for at their local community optometry practice rather than in the hospital.

The new service is being rolled out in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and will expand across Scotland over the next two years. It is expected 20,000 patients will be registered once complete.

Patients with lower risk glaucoma or treated ocular hypertension will be cared for in community optometry practices, hoping to reduce waiting time pressures in hospitals.

Public health minister Jenni Minto said: “Scotland is regarded as a world leader in community eye care service provision. We are the only country in the UK to provide free universal NHS-funded eye examinations, and our investment in community optometry services has helped reduce the burden on GPs and secondary care services.

“I am very pleased to celebrate the launch of this new flagship NHS Community Glaucoma Service in Glasgow and look forward to seeing more patients across the country benefiting from the rollout.”

Image by Sofie Zbořilová from Pixabay