Arguments for the Adoption of a Nystagmus Care Pathway

Abstract

Pathological nystagmus is a spontaneous oscillation of the eyes. It is a complex problem with many subtypes and causes ranging from the acute neurological emergency to chronic visual disorders. There is considerable variability in clinical management and patient experience across the UK. The Nystagmus Care Pathway (NCP) is a proposal to provide an evidence-based, consistent minimum standard of care across all eye services for patients with nystagmus. The NCP coordinates expertise from the various team members with a staged approach: 1) pathway entry; 2) nystagmus identification; 3) finding underlying causes/associations; 4) managing causes/associations; 5) managing the nystagmus and its effects; 6) support for patients and families; 7) pathway exit. Orthoptists are ideally placed to coordinate the NCP as they are trained in ocular motility and visual assessment. They are accustomed to providing continuity of care, multidisciplinary working and via the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS), they can provide consistency of care across the UK. Key performance indicators are proposed.