Referral thresholds for an integrated learning disability eye care pathway: a consensus approach.

Introduction: Local Optometric Support Unit (LOCSU) have published their refreshed clinical pathway for eye care for people with a learning disability. The document sets out the adjustments to practice that a community optometrist might make in order to provide optimal care for a person with learning disability attending a primary eye care assessment. The pathway specifically points to the need to retain patients in primary care where appropriate and 'reduce the number of people with learning disability who are inappropriately referred into the Hospital Eye Service (HES).

Effect of training on attitudes and expertise of optometrists towards people with intellectual disabilities.

Purpose: To determine whether participation in an educational programme, which comprised both lectures and supervised patient contacts, did more to improve the attitudes, expertise, knowledge and confidence of optometrists and student optometrists towards people with intellectual disabilities (ID) compared with receiving didactic lectures only.

Methods: Optometrists and student optometrists were invited to take part in vision screening. A series of lectures were provided followed by supervised practice for a minimum of 2 days.