Quality standard

This quality standard covers the diagnosis and management of cataracts, glaucoma and age‑related macular degeneration (AMD) and the prevention of sight loss. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

It does not cover diabetic retinopathy. People aged 12 and over with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are eligible for the NHS diabetic eye screening (DES) programme.

How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them

Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them. We check our quality standards every August to make sure they are up to date.

This quality standard updates and replaces the NICE quality standard for glaucoma in adults (QS7).

Endorsing bodies

This quality standard is endorsed by NHS England as required by the Health and Social Care Act (2012).

Supporting organisations

A number of organisations recognise the benefit of this quality standard in improving care. They work with us to promote it to commissioners and service providers: