Post-Operative Cataract information

4 March 2021

NTW LOC have also been made aware that some secondary care surgical providers are now conducting all post-operative care reviews via telephone consultation.

Patients are presenting with post-operative forms from the surgical provider for completion by optometrists requesting information such as Vision and VA. The reporting of such information falls outside the requirements of GOS or an eye examination and optometrists are not required to provide this information.

 Surgical providers require this information to complete their audit data for national statistics. The responsibility for the collection of such data sits with the surgical provider as part of their post-operative follow-up care, and is resourced accordingly, as such there is no requirement for optometrists to provide this information at no extra charge.

There are nationally agreed pathways, supported by NHSE, LOCSU, College of Optometrists and the RCOphth, which promote primary care optometry taking a lead role on post-operative cataract care but they also recognise the need for good governance, local protocols and appropriate commissioning.

NTWLOC would suggest if a patient attends with a form requiring post-operative information that a copy of the GOS2 or spectacle prescription is attached to the form and returned to the patient. You are not required to complete VA/Visions and it is up to the patient if they choose to return the refractive details.