SCONe (Scottish Collaborative Optometry-Ophthalmology Network e-research)

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Website: About SCONe | The University of Edinburgh

In Scotland, 1300 optometrists in 900 practices are capturing millions of retinal images per year, representing a rich resource to innovate eye healthcare and research. In 2006 the General Ophthalmic Services contract was introduced. This included NHS funded routine eye examinations and the provision of high-resolution retinal cameras for all optometrists. This means there are retinal images currently stored in community practices dating back more than a decade.

The first aim of SCONe is to collect these images captured in community optometry practices to evaluate early macula changes in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The overall ambition is to collect, classify, and curate a community-acquired retinal image research resource in Scotland to enable early identification of eye disease, improve clinical outcomes and uncover new clinical signs of disease.

Data accumulated through SCONe could be used for:

• Studies quantifying incidence/prevalence of AMD in Scotland to inform healthcare policy makers to channel resources to communities experiencing high demand.
• The development of new technologies that can aide primary care providers to detect and monitor early AMD.
  Informing service improvements for optometrists and inspiring patient-pathway re-design.
• Research into the development of AMD progression, other chronic eye diseases (e.g. glaucoma) and discovery of new clinical indications of disease (e.g. for Alzheimer's disease).
  Teaching, such as feedback for referring practitioners, clinical education, course content and multiprofessional learning resources.