Forward view: Vision and eye health

The role of medical research in developing cures and treatments to prevent sight loss

Chaired by Michele Acton, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Society of Medicine and Richard Wormald, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

10:25 am What is the present position of research in the prevention of sight loss what are the issues and opportunities - Neil Ebenezer, Director of Research Policy and Innovation, Fight for Sight

10:35 am What innovations have been achieved and which are in the pipeline - Tina Houlihan, Chief Executive, Retina UK

10:45 Triple A Collaboration how to aim high to cure age-related macular degeneration (AMD). What are the prospects for a cure? - Dr Wen Hwa Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Scientist, Action Against Age-related Macular Degeneration (AAAMD)

10:55 am Question and answer session

Discussing the variety of services and support for those at risk of or experiencing sight loss. How do we achieve quality outcomes, service efficiencies while providing a good patient experience?

Chaired by Matt Broom, Chief Executive Officer, Vision UK and Louise Calland, Deputy Chair, Industry Vision Group, Novartis

10:25 am Hospital services and clinical capacity, the issues for ophthalmologists and service users- Mike Burdon, President, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists 

10:35 am Sensory services in local authorities - integration and pathways to support and care - Simon Labbett, Chair, Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network 

10:45 am Mental health and sight loss - the taboo of mental health and breaking new ground to support service users - Amanda Hawkins, Specialist Lead for Counselling and Wellbeing, Royal National Institute of Blind People

10:55 am Question and answer session

Eye health and co-morbidities. People with learning disabilities, stroke survivors, people with diabetes and many more experience higher levels of sight loss. How should we address this? 

Chaired by Dr Renata Gomes, Head of Research & Innovation, Blind Veterans UK

Dementia and sight loss in the ophthalmology clinic - Paul Ursell, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Learning disabilities and sight loss what are the issues and opportunities -Lisa Donaldson, Head of Eye Health, SeeAbility

Prevalence of Visual Impairment in Dementia (PrOVIDe) the prevalence of dementia and sight loss and the role of optometry - Michael Bowen, Director of Research, The College of Optometrists

Training professionals about sight loss and complex needs - June Neil, Training and Development Manager, Older People Complex Needs in the UK Adult Social Care Practice and Development Team, Royal National Institute of Blind People

How can I help as a professional? From high street to hospital to social care. Looking at pathways and models of providing information, the evidence of what works and what are the barriers for professionals

Chaired by Jenny Pearce, Vice Chairman, Thomas Pocklington Trust, Vision UK

The role and opportunities for eye clinic liaison officer’s (ECLO's) in supporting people with sight loss - Ceri Hudson, Eye Clinic Liaison Officer, Royal National Institute of Blind People

Issues of interdisciplinary communication - Jayshree Vasani, Dispensing Optician, London Local Lead, Association of British Dispensing Opticians, Continuing Education and Training Facilitator, Visualise Training and Consultancy, Local Optical Committee Support Unit

How can ophthalmologists support patients in the clinic and beyond? - Dr Waqaar Shah, General Practitioner, Royal College of General Practitioners

What is the role of the third sector in provision of services, signposting and support? - Jamie Dormandy, Head of Advice and Customer Service, Royal National Institute of Blind People

12:50 Question and answer session

How we join up the eye health and sight loss pathway in the four nations covering health, social care and the voluntary sector. Integration and filling the gaps between services

Chaired by Phil Ambler, Director of Evidence and Policy, Thomas Pocklington Trust

12:15 pm Similarities and differences between the countries of the UK and the different approaches to same needs for support  - James Adams, Director, Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland

12:25 pm Partial devolution in Wales/Cymru, opportunities and issues - Ansley Workman, Director, Royal National Institute of Blind People Cymru

12:35 pm Political policy and promise, sight loss and support in Scotland - Richard Baker, Policy Manager, Royal Blind and Scottish War Blinded

12:45 pm The role of the third sector and collaboration across borders - Niall Foley, Policy, Campaigns and Engagement Manager, Guide Dogs Scotland

12:55 pm Question and answer session

What are the current priorities in children’s eye health across the UK. Is vision screening the only game in town?

Chaired by Mary Bairstow, National Development Manager, Vision UK

Professor Anna Horwood, Professor of Orthoptics and Visual Development, British and Irish Orthoptic Society, University of Reading

Professor Bruce Evans, Director of Research, Community Optometrist, Institute of Optometry, Visiting Professor, City, University of London, London South Bank University

Dr Annegret Dahlmann-Noor, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Paediatric Service Director, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Clinical Trials Lead Paediatric Ophthalmology

Discussion of the different commissioning and delivery models for primary eye care across the UK

Chaired by Richard Whittington, Chief Operating Officer, Local Optical Committee Support Unit, Chair, England Vision Strategy

12:15 pm The priorities in Northern Ireland, how does Northern Ireland compare to the rest of the UK? - Raymond Curran, Head of Ophthalmic Services, Health and Social Care Board Northern Ireland

12:25 pm Can we view England as a single entity with diverse commissioning and priorities in different regions (sustainability and transformation partnerships, clinical commissioning groups, international citizen service etc.) - Zoe Richmond, Interim Clinical Director, Local Optical Committee Support Unit 

12:35 pm How has Wales taken on the issues of eye health and care with partial devolution? - Sali Davis, Chief Executive, Optometry Wales 

12:45 pm With the gradual and increasing devolution of Scotland how has the country taken up the challenge of eye health and care - Hal Rollason, Chair, Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) Scotland, Treasurer, Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO), Member of Executive Committee, Optometry Scotland

12:55 pm Question and answer session

How we can best use evidence and statistics to reduce prevalence of sight loss and improve patient outcomes. What are the issues and opportunities around presently available statistics and the way they are used?

Chaired by Dr David Parkins, Vice Chair, Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning  and Dr Catey Bunce, Reader in Medical Statistics, King’s College London

2:20 pm The United Kingdom national eye health and hearing survey, why is a survey necessary, what difference can it make? - Professor Rupert Bourne, Professor of Ophthalmology, Anglia Ruskin University, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Cambridge University Hospitals   

2:35 pm Using statistics as public health indicators, portfolio of indicators, system and assurance framework for eye-health (SAFE). Providing useful, usable information to commissioners - Parul Desai, Public Health and Ophthalmology Consultant, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

2:50 pm Statistics around children and young people, how they can be used to ensure support for children, young people, parents and carers - Sue Keil, Research Lead and Executive Committee member, VIEW

3:05 pm Question and answer session

How do we raise the importance of eye health with the general public? How do we challenge public perceptions around sight loss?

How do we influence policy makers?

Reaching the hard to reach, making a difference

Messaging, what works

Work to agree 3 public perceptions/campaigns we can all take forwards

Chaired by Lee Kumutat, In Touch Producer, Radio 4, BBC

Harjit Sandhu, Managing Director, Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO)

David Cartwright, Chair, Eyecare Trust

Bob Hutchinson, President, Royal Society of Medicine General Practice with Primary Healthcare Section

Steph Cutler, Head of Employment, Thomas Pocklington Trust