The Fred Hollows Foundation is proud to introduce the Quality of Refractive Error Care (Q.REC) toolkit, a global innovation in refractive error care, at the IAPB 2030 IN SIGHT LIVE event in Mexico in June 2024.
The toolkit presents a game changer in eye care; the Q.REC Toolkit is a comprehensive, evidence-based approach designed to assess and identify opportunities to improve the quality of refractive error services using real time data.
Uncorrected refractive errors are the leading cause of vision impairment, affecting over 670 million people worldwide.
To address this urgent need, eye health organizations like The Fred Hollows Foundation are dedicated to providing high-quality eye care to everyone, especially the most vulnerable populations.
The World Health Assembly has endorsed the integration of eye care into Universal Health Coverage (UHC), emphasizing the importance of improving both the quantity and quality of services.
The Fred Hollows Foundation is at the forefront of these efforts, driving significant advancements in the quality of refractive services, such as the provision of corrective glasses for vision impairment.
The Q.REC toolkit has been rigorously tested in pilot programs across four countries, with results published in leading peer reviewed journals (see below).
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A key feature of the Q.REC approach is the use of “unannounced standardised patients.” These undercover patients provide a discreet and unbiased assessment of service standards, revealing crucial areas for improvement.
In Cambodia, uncorrected refractive error is the leading cause of mild and moderate vision impairment among adults. The Q.REC project was deployed to evaluate the quality of refractive error services, revealing that less than 40% of spectacles met optimal quality standards.
This pivotal study has led to significant conversation with policymakers, with Cambodia’s National Program for Eye Health developing new regulatory measures to enhance service quality across refractive error services providers.
In Vietnam, the Q.REC project pilot has resulted in the establishment of an optometry job code, setting professional standards and recognizing the emerging field of optometry.
This evidence-based approach is driving system-wide change, ensuring affordable, high-quality, and equitable eye care as a core component of UHC.
In Pakistan, the Q.REC study demonstrated quality was significantly impacted by the way spectacles were made. The College of Ophthalmology & Allied Vision Sciences has fast-tracked the implementation of optical dispensing courses.
We invite eye health professionals, organizations, and governments worldwide to conduct a Q.REC study to obtain current data on the quality of refractive error services in your country or region.
This study will identify targeted areas for improvement, policy change, and regulation. By providing up-to-date data, a Q.REC study can enhance the quality of refractive error services, ensuring access to quality eye care for all, especially the most vulnerable, while contributing to global eye health standards and data collection.
