The UK Sight Loss and Vision Priority Setting Partnership (SLV‐PSP): Vision research questions prioritised by patients and health care professionals

Abstract

AbstractPurpose The SLV‐PSP process aims to identify research priorities that can be used to inform decisions of funding bodies and enhance the case for additional research funding.Methods People were asked to submit questions about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sight loss and eye conditions that are most important to them. The survey was available online, by phone, post and alternative formats (Braille and audio). The partner organisations were Fight for Sight, the College of Optometrists, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Vision 2020. Over 30 charitable and professional organisations promoted the survey.Results 2,200 people responded generating 4,461 questions. 65% of respondents had sight loss or an eye condition. 17% were healthcare professionals (ophthalmologists, optometrists, orthoptists, ophthalmic nurses, opticians, social care/ rehabilitation). The questions were allocated to 12 eye disease categories before subsequent prioritisation of the top 10 at 12 workshops (questions at http://fightforsight.org.uk/sightlosspsp). The categories were ARMD, cataract, corneal and external, glaucoma, inherited retinal, neuro‐ophthalmology, ocular cancer, ocular inflammatory, refractive error and ocular motility and vitreoretinal/ocular trauma.Conclusion Analysis of demographic data for respondents indicates that the sample is generally representative of the UK population. The number and diversity of conditions represented in responses is distributed across the major conditions and fits projected population incidence.