Ask the Consultant: Conor Ramsden

We asked Conor Ramsden how better collaboration helps patient outcomes.

When we talk about improving outcomes in eyecare, it’s easy to focus on new imaging tools, surgical advances, or AI-driven diagnostics. But often, the real breakthrough doesn’t come from technology alone, it comes from collaboration..

We sat down with Conor Ramsden, Consultant Ophthalmologist and co-founder of Lutra Health, to talk about why collaboration between optometrists, ophthalmologists, and patients could be the most powerful innovation of all.

Conor, what first inspired Lutra Health and your focus on collaboration?

Conor Ramsden: The idea came directly from day-to-day experience. Every clinician knows how frustrating it can be when systems don’t talk to each other. Paper referrals, missing images, incomplete data, it all slows things down and impacts the patient waiting at the other end.

We founded Lutra because we saw that the biggest gap in eye care wasn’t clinical skill or a fancy new machine, it was collaboration. What started as a conversation in a corridor with a dream to improve the quality of referrals has led to the creation of a single, secure platform where optometrists and ophthalmologists and patients can share data seamlessly, reducing friction and improving outcomes.

What does "better collaboration" look like in practice?

CR: For me, it means clarity across the pathway. When a patient sees their optometrist, the data (images, test results, clinical notes) should flow effortlessly to secondary care in a standardised, digital format. The hospital can then review, triage, and respond quickly.

It’s about everyone seeing the same picture, literally. When data moves freely, care follows smoothly.

Why does collaboration make such a difference to patient outcomes?

CR: Because time is vision. In conditions like glaucoma or macular disease, delays can have a lasting impact. When collaboration works, we reduce waiting times dramatically.

In some of our pilot regions, streamlined digital referrals have cut unnecessary outpatient visits by up to 90%, freeing those slots for cases with more urgent need. That means patients get triaged sooner, treated sooner and recover sooner.

How do optometrists benefits from a more connected system?

CR: Optometrists are the foundation of eyecare. They are skilled clinicians, but often limited by the systems around them. With Lutra, they can send clinical information that is complete, standardised and instantly available to the hospital team.

That saves time, avoids duplication and elevates the role of community optometry. It’s a way to show the true value of their expertise while opening up opportunities for shared care and professional growth.

And for ophthalmologists, what's the biggest gain?

CR: Clarity before the consultation.

When all the information arrives up front (images, history, test results) we can triage effectively before the patient even walks into clinic. That means urgent cases are prioritised, routine ones can be managed in the community.

The end result is less administrative burden and more time spent doing what matters.

What are the biggest barriers to collaboration in eye care right now?

CR: Legacy systems and fragmented processes. Different hospitals, regions and practices use different software, often ones that don’t integrate. Communication breaks down.

There’s also the cultural element: clinicians are busy and change can feel daunting. But once people see the results, faster triage, fewer bottlenecks, happier patients, the momentum builds. Collaboration becomes the easier option, not the harder one.

Technology plays a huge role here. How does Lutra enable this collaboration?

CR: Lutra acts as a connector, not a replacement. We can integrate securely with existing systems, EHRs, imaging software and referral tools to make data sharing simple and compliant.

Everything we do meets NHS Digital and UK GDPR standards. Patients own their data; we just make sure it flows safely where it’s needed. That trust in the system is what unlocks collaboration at scale.

Looking nationally, how can this approach help address the NHS backlog?

CR: Ophthalmology is the busiest outpatient specialty in the NHS providing nearly one in ten appointments in hospital. The system is under incredible pressure.

If we can join up existing data and streamline communication between community and secondary care, we can unlock capacity without needing more staff or buildings.

It’s not about reinventing the wheel, it’s about connecting the spokes.

Finally, what's next for Lutra Health and the future of collaborative eye care?

CR: Our vision is a fully joined-up ecosystem where optometrists, ophthalmologists, and patients share information seamlessly. Where referrals are faster, waiting lists shorter, and data truly works for people.

We’re scaling across the UK, supported by NHS partners and investors who believe that collaboration is the foundation of sustainable healthcare.