Letter from the College of Optometrists

Dear Falls Professional,

The College of Optometrists is promoting the joint working of falls teams and optometrists to prevent vision related falls in their patients. You may remember The College of Optometrists Focus on Falls report, published June 2014, which aimed to:

provide an understanding of the current provision of vision testing within falls pathways and other services related to the prevention and treatment of falls across the UK

make recommendations on how falls services can be supported in checking patients’ vision, while encouraging and empowering optometrists to contribute.

A major aspect which arose from our research is that falls teams are generally open to forming relationships with local optometrists. To help facilitate this, we created a dedicated resource webpage (www.college-optometrists.org/falls) with a place to order resource materials and a searchable facility for falls teams to find their local optometrist.

We also provided a link to a Falls Directory which optometrists could use to refer any patients that they think might be at risk of falling to falls teams. And to do this we asked falls teams to submit their contact details. Unfortunately and unexpectedly, the host of the directory is no longer supporting the information. However, as the College has received feedback that this is valuable tool, we will host the database of falls services on our own website. My sincere apologies if you have already taken the time to submit your details to the previous directory.

Help us to prevent unnecessary falls by providing your local optometrists with details of your service so they can refer any patients who might be at risk of falling. The form is simple, easy to use, and should take less than five minutes to fill out:

www.college-optometrists.org/fallsform

Finally, we still have a stock of simple-to-use vision assessment tools (Eyes-Right Tool), a resource webpage and a presentation that highlights the link between vision and falls. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or visit www.college-optometrists.org/falls for a copy of the eye assessment tool, a copy of the presentation or simply if you have any queries or suggestions.

Thank you for your time and support of the College Falls Directory.

Best wishes,

Paul Alexander
Policy Manager

College of Optometrists
42 Craven Street, London WC2N 5NG

Tel: 020 7766 4387
Fax: 020 7766 4387

Web: www.college-optometrists.org