As clinical research becomes more embedded within NHS quality frameworks, optometrists have an expanding role in helping patients access new treatments and participate in trials. Understanding the clinical trial landscape helps clinicians stay up to date with innovations and better support patient referral, recruitment and education.

Clinical trials are research studies that test how safe and effective new medical interventions are in people, such as drugs, devices, surgical procedures or diagnostic tests. 

Clinical trials form the foundations of evidence-based practice, ensuring that treatments continually improve. In ophthalmology, clinical trials drive advances in the management of conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 

Most people, including children with appropriate safeguards, can participate in clinical trials, which are typically phased in four main stages (WHO, 2025). Early phases focus on finding a safe dose and identifying side effects in small groups, while later phases investigate long-term safety in much larger populations. 

Different types of trial answer different questions. Prevention trials investigate better ways to stop disease development while diagnostic trials compare tests or refine procedures for detecting conditions. 

Recent regulatory reforms have changed the landscape of UK clinical trials in ophthalmology. Since 2019, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has incorporated clinical research into its inspection framework of some private optometry clinics and ophthalmology providers and secondary NHS care. This means that clinical research activity is formally recognised as a vital part of high-quality NHS patient care (CQC, 2024). The CQC covers most primary care, including GPs, pharmacies and dentistry.