Highlights from UKEGS 2025: Showcasing Innovation in Glaucoma Care

19 November 2025

This year’s event was a hub of discussion on patient-centred care, technology-driven monitoring and collaborative approaches to improving outcomes.

The conference, including a dedicated session on Glaucoma in the Community, spotlighted the vital role of community optometry in tackling current challenges in glaucoma care.

Three posters presented by Primary Eyecare Services provided valuable evaluations of services providing glaucoma care in community optometry practices.  These underscored the theme of collaboration between hospital eye services and community optometry, ensuring patients receive timely, high-quality care closer to home and avoiding unnecessary hospital appointments.

Patient-Centred Glaucoma Monitoring

This evaluation demonstrated the effectiveness of community-based glaucoma monitoring using risk-stratified pathways and personalised care plans. Accredited optometrists manage stable patients under agreed clinical protocols, reducing unnecessary hospital visits, improving efficiency, and reducing carbon footprint. The service is safe, effective, and well-received by patients. Wider commissioning of this model could enhance access, free hospital capacity for complex cases, and deliver shorter waiting times and improved patient satisfaction without compromising clinical safety.

Read the full poster here.

Glaucoma Referral Refinement Service (GRRS)

The GRRS evaluation highlighted the benefits of structured referral refinement in reducing false positive referrals and improving system efficiency. Accredited optometrists repeat intraocular pressure (IOP) and/or visual field tests to confirm that hospital referral is needed. This large evaluation demonstrated that nearly 70% of patients were discharged without need for referral. The benefits are twofold: cost savings for the NHS and a better patient experience through quicker access to appropriate care and high patient satisfaction. Wider adoption of GRRS could significantly ease hospital capacity pressures.

You can find the full poster here.

Glaucoma Enhanced Referral Service (GERS)

The GERS evaluation demonstrated how the service builds on GRRS by enabling accredited community optometrists to perform enhanced assessments, including assessment of the optic nerve, before referring suspected glaucoma cases to hospital eye services. GERS has the potential to deliver a meaningful reduction in first attendances in secondary care glaucoma clinics, deflecting nearly half of all patients while facilitating timely referral with standardised baseline data where indicated.

These evaluations underline the importance of integrated care models and role of community optometry in supporting NHS services.

For the full poster, see here.

Conference Atmosphere and Key Takeaways 

UKEGS 2025 focused on priorities for improving glaucoma care and was rich in discussion around evidence-based practice, digital innovation and integrated care models. Sessions explored how technology and collaboration can transform glaucoma services, aligning with NHS priorities for sustainability and patient-centred delivery.   

Team Presence: Tom, Amy and Anna Representing Primary Eyecare Services 

It was fantastic to see our Glaucoma Clinical Lead, Tom Mackley, our Head of Research, Amy Hughes and Lead Ophthalmologist Anna Bhan actively participating in the conference. Their engagement in discussions and networking with peers reflects Primary Eyecare Services’ commitment to staying at the forefront of clinical innovation.  

Why This Matters 

The work presented at UKEGS 2025 reinforces the value of collaborative care and continuous improvement in glaucoma services. By sharing evidence-based practices and innovative models, Primary Eyecare Services and its partners are helping shape a future where patients receive timely, effective and compassionate care.