The Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC), which represents the major clinical professions and charity organisations in the eye-care sector, has launched a new low vision and rehabilitation framework for adults and children.

The framework calls for more joined-up commissioning and provision of appropriate equipment and comes in three parts:

• Low vision, habilitation and rehabilitation framework. These services are not consistently available across England and waiting times for appointments vary greatly. These services are now an essential part of the eye health pathway and should be included in commissioning contracts and service specifications, argues CCEHC
• Primary Eye Care Framework for first contact care. Demand is growing for hospital eye services (HES) because of the ageing population and new treatments. Patients risk losing sight because of delayed appointments and radical change is needed, says CCEHC
• Community Ophthalmology Framework. Eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma are on the rise as the population ages. The Hospital Eye Service is already nearing capacity and patients with glaucoma require life-long follow up. This means that the current service model is becoming unsustainable.