Galway cited as leading model of integrated eye care services

Major improvements in eye care services across the Galway region were highlighted at the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) 2026 Annual Conference.

Dr Geraldine Comer, Consultant Medical Ophthalmologist, HSE West/North-West, outlined the major changes to a number of ophthalmology services in the region as part of the roll-out of the integrated eye care team (IECT) model.

The IECT model comprises a multidisciplinary team of ophthalmic nurses, orthoptists, optometrists and technicians working under the clinical leadership of a consultant medical ophthalmologist. It is intended to provide high-volume community-based eye care while maintaining strong links with hospital ophthalmology services.

The first IECTs were launched in 2020 in north Dublin (linked to the Mater Hospital) and south/west Dublin (linked to the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital).

Since then, the model has expanded into Cork and the west of Ireland, where the Galway region has become a leading example of how integrated pathways can transform access to care.

During a dedicated cataract symposium at the ICO conference, Dr Comer outlined the modernised cataract pathway under her IECT in the west region and the significant benefits it is delivering for patients.

Cataract surgery remains the highest-volume surgical procedure in Ireland, and demand continues to grow with an ageing population, the conference heard. In response, the HSE in collaboration with the National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology has introduced new cataract pathways designed to streamline referrals and ensure hospital surgical capacity is used efficiently.

The new model of care is designed to reduce unnecessary hospital visits, shorten waiting times, and allow more services to be delivered closer to patients’ homes through community-based clinics. 

Community pre-assessment clinics also allow much of the preparatory work to be completed locally before surgery.

Dr Comer described how the implementation of the cataract pathway in the western region is helping patients move more efficiently from referral to assessment and onward treatment, while ensuring hospital services are focused on surgery and more complex cases.

“A standardised cataract-only referral form has been developed for GPs and optometrists referring to the HSE system,” she said.

“This ensures that patients referred for surgical assessment are suitable, informed and ready to proceed if surgery is offered. Patients who do not yet require surgery can remain under community optometric care until the appropriate time”.

The Clinical Programme has recently launched a cataract referral form on Healthlink, making the referral process available digitally, and this is now in use in Galway.

Following engagement with local optometrists, about 80 per cent of referrals for cataracts to Dr Comer’s team are now from optometrists. The conversion rate for surgery from referrals is about 50 per cent and the ‘do not attend’ rate is very low. Unnecessary referrals have also been significantly reduced.

Speaking at the conference, Ms Aoife Doyle, HSE National Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology, said: “We very much welcome the roll-out of the Healthlink cataract referral form. Further progress depends on investment in shared digital health records so hospital and community teams can access the same patient information in real time. This will be especially important as Galway and other regions continue expanding cataract, paediatric, glaucoma, and medical retina pathways.”

She added that it is already clear that the Galway region has shown how new care pathways, consultant medical ophthalmologist leadership, and IECTs can deliver measurable improvements for patients.

“It offers a strong blueprint for the future of ophthalmology services across Ireland.”