Vision Eye Institute (VEI) is urging optometrists, GPs and specialists to share their perspectives on collaborative eyecare, with its 2026 national SHARED VISION referrer survey closing this week.
The organisation says the survey is a key mechanism for driving continuous improvement across the patient journey, from referral pathways and treatment to follow-up care and communication with primary eyecare providers.
VEI’s model places strong emphasis on collaboration with referrers, with feedback helping guide how it invests in service delivery, education, research and practical resources.
Building on past improvements
Insights gathered through previous SHARED VISION surveys in 2018 and 2022 – which attracted more than 1500 responses combined – have already led to tangible changes across the network.
Among the most significant developments was the rollout of the Oculo platform in 2019. Now used across all VEI clinics and by its ophthalmologists, the system enables instantaneous electronic referrals, supports better communication and helps track unmet referrals to improve continuity of care.
Education offerings have also evolved in response to feedback. During the COVID-19 pandemic, VEI expanded its SHARED VISION program to include large-scale webinars to maintain access to CPD. More recently, it has shifted back toward in-person events, with interactive sessions designed to strengthen professional relationships between referrers and clinical teams.
Patient access and experience have been another focus area. VEI has digitised registration and admission forms across its clinics and day surgeries, streamlining administrative processes. Online appointment bookings are also being progressively introduced to improve accessibility for both patients and referrers.
In addition, enhanced patient feedback pathways now include real-time alerts, enabling quicker responses to issues. Relevant insights are shared with referrers via VEI’s Clinical Relationships Team, helping to close the feedback loop.
Invitation to participate
The 2026 survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and is open to all primary eyecare providers, including optometrists, GPs and specialists. Responses are anonymous and confidential.
As an incentive, participants can choose to enter a prize draw for one of four Prezee digital gift cards — one valued at $200 and three at $100.
The survey closes at 5pm on Friday 8 May, with winners to be announced on Friday 15 May.
