Cataract Care in the Community: A Scalable Solution for a Growing Challenge
23 July 2025
As cataract surgery rates rise and NHS capacity remains under pressure, Primary Eyecare Services is delivering a proven, scalable model that aligns directly with the NHS 10 Year Plan’s vision for integrated, community-based care.
A Community-Based Model That Works
Our Pre and Post Operative Cataract Service, delivered by WOPEC-accredited optometrists in high street settings, is designed to reduce pressure on hospital eye services while improving patient experience and outcomes.
- Pre-Operative Care: Patients receive tailored counsel and eligibility assessments before being referred for surgery, ensuring only those who need and want surgery are referred.
- Post-Operative Care: Follow-up care is provided locally, typically by the same optometrist who made the initial referral. This continuity supports faster recovery, early detection of complications, onward referral for second eye only where necessary and seamless integration into ongoing eye care.
Recent evaluation of 8,013 enhanced cataract referrals across six Integrated Care Board (ICBs) areas in England showed a Cataract Conversion Rate (CCR) of 92%, significantly exceeding the 2019 Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) target of 80-85% and approaching the top percentile metric of 95%.
The integrated cataract pathway enabled 6,066 patients to receive post-operative assessments in primary care optometry practices in these areas, avoiding unnecessary hospital visits and supporting continuity of care. This shift saved an estimated 10,465 secondary care appointments over seven months.
Carbon emission savings were substantial, with 17,116 kg CO₂ emissions saved due to reduced travel, aligning with the NHS’s Green er goals.
Supporting System Reform Through Smarter Cataract Care
The NHS 10 Year Plan calls for a fundamental shift in how and where care is delivered, prioritising prevention, personalisation and integration. Our cataract services are a practical demonstration of this shift in action.
By embedding pre- and post-operative care into local optometry practices, we’re not only improving patient experience but also helping to rebalance the system. Patients are seen sooner, closer to home, and by professionals they already know and trust. This reduces unnecessary hospital appointments, frees up consultant time for complex cases and ensures that care is delivered in the most appropriate setting.
As outlined in the NHS Confederation’s “Reimagining the Future of Primary Care” series, Dharmesh Patel, Chief Executive of Primary Eyecare Services showcases that this is the future of eye care: digitally connected, locally delivered and clinically robust. Our model supports this vision by enabling optometrists to work at the top of their license, supported by interoperable systems and clear referral pathways.
This is not a pilot or a proposal, it’s a proven service already delivering results at scale. With over 214,000 patients supported in 2024/25 alone, our cataract pathway is ready to be adopted more widely as part of a national strategy to modernise elective care.
A Blueprint for National Adoption
The success of our cataract pathway reflects the broader potential of community optometry. With secure digital systems, shared clinical records and strong governance, our model ensures safe, coordinated care between primary and secondary care.
Primary Eyecare Services is already delivering the “left shift” in care, bringing services into neighbourhoods, reducing pressure on acute services and improving access for patients.
Resources
See here our research poster ‘Impact of commissioned primary care integrated cataract pathways’