A 2024 study shows that involving primary care optometrists in the assessment and monitoring of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and glaucoma can reduce wait times for initial assessments and unnecessary appointments and increase capacity in the hospital eye service (HES) (Ryan et al, 2024). Professor Barbara Ryan MCOptom MBE, from the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences at Cardiff University, and Mari Jones, from the health economics team at Swansea University, with other researchers, looked at the value of optometrists playing a greater role in managing nAMD and glaucoma. 

They evaluated seven enhanced optometric service pathways in primary care in Wales between 2021 and 2023. The results of the study have informed contract reform for NHS Wales eye care services.