Community Adult Low Vision Service

The Gloucestershire Low Vision Service Pilot launched on 1st June 2023.  The service is commissioned by Gloucestershire ICB  and is provided by local optical practices via Primary Eyecare Services Ltd (PES) with the support of the Gloucestershire Local Optical Committee. The service is be available for patients who are registered with a GP in Gloucestershire ICB. 

Service Information

• Eligibility: Domiciliary service is available for all patients with a Gloucestershire GP. The in-practice service is available for patients with GPs located in the Tewkesbury, Forest of Dean and Cotswolds localities. 
• Equipment: All service providers will be loaned a low vision assessment kit 
• Prescribed low vision aids are ordered through PES’ supply chain. The cost of these is funded separately and is not from the practice fee.

If a Practice wants to provide these services, what should they do?  

Practices that wish to deliver this service will need to complete the expression of interest form here. 

Already on OPERA?   

Once the practice has expressed an interest on the above form they should follow the guidance here to add the Low Vision Service to their OPERA practice profile. Practices will need to ensure that their practitioners have uploaded the relevant WOPEC certificate to their practitioner profile so they can request to deliver the service. If you’re not sure how to do this follow the guide here.  

No WOPEC certification?  

If you have practitioners that haven’t delivered services previously, and therefore have no certification to date, they will need to complete the relevant WOPEC LOCSU Low Vision Module. WOPEC access codes can be requested from the Gloucestershire Local Optical Committee by emailing  secretary@glosloc.co.uk. If you already hold a suitable higher qualification in Low Vision (e.g. Prof.Cert.LV or ABDO Low Vision Honours) this is not required. You will still need to upload the evidence of this alternative low vision qualification to OPERA.

Not signed up to OPERA?   

If the Practice has completed the expression of interest but has not registered on the OPERA platform to date, please read the guide here and onboard your practice. The Practice will need to complete this process and be approved by PES. Once this has been completed, they can register their practitioners to enable service delivery using this guidance and then request to deliver the service using the guidance here