With community optical practices expected to be the first port of call for all routine eye problems, and often acting as the first port of call in an emergency, this peer discussion is suited to all registrants interested in common anterior eye conditions and their treatment or onward referral. It will include discussion of general sales licence (GSL), pharmacy (P), and prescription only medicines (POM) including limitations on supply to certain patient groups. There will be ethical scenarios surrounding a trial and error approach to treatment, and the difference in scope of practice between the four types of UK registrant present. We will also discuss a not uncommon emergency scenario where the patient is at serious risk of immediate sight loss and treatment is beyond the scope of all GOC registrants, but referrals may be handled completely differently.

Learning outcomes:

• Practitioners will be able to identify when to manage in house and when (and how) to refer a patient presenting with an everyday eye condition and recognise the limits of their scope of practice
• Practitioners will recognise how to work collaboratively with optical and medical colleagues, communicating effectively in the best interests of patients presenting with everyday eye problems, and referring when clinically justified