Advanced ophthalmic nurse practitioners: the potential to improve outcomes for older people with cataracts
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Advanced ophthalmic nurse practitioners: the potential to improve outcomes for older people with cataracts

Penelope Stanford Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, England
Jordan Ewing Trainee Advanced Nurse Practitioner, ophthalmology, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool

Why you should read this article:
  • To gain a basic understanding of normal vision and its impairment as a result of cataracts

  • To appreciate the physical and psychological effects of cataracts on older people’s quality of life

  • To be aware of how patients with cataracts can benefit from the enhanced skills of the advanced ophthalmic nurse practitioner

An ageing population has led to a substantial increase in the prevalence of visual impairments, which can compromise lifestyle, health and general physical and psychological well-being. Age-related cataracts can have a negative effect on older people’s quality of life but can be corrected by surgery. It is imperative that older people have access to cataract surgery and, given government objectives of NHS efficiency gains, advanced level nurse practitioners have the potential to increase capacity for and access to cataract surgery.

This article outlines the aetiology of cataracts, developments in ophthalmic nursing and the broadened scope of practice of advanced ophthalmic nurse practitioners (AONPs). It explores how the AONP is well-placed to provide high quality care to the older person who requires cataract surgery. Professional drivers for role development are explored in relation to older people.

Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.2020.e1229

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

penelope.stanford@manchester.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Stanford P, Ewing J (2020) Advanced ophthalmic nurse practitioners: the potential to improve outcomes for older people with cataracts. Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.2020.e1229

Published online: 17 June 2020

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