BMJ 1994;309:1371 (19 November)

Letters

The sight test fee Optomoetrists are making more thoughtful referrals

Optometrists are making more thoughtful referrals

EDITOR, - D A H Laidlaw and colleagues' paper linking a reduction in referrals for glaucoma to a reduction in the number of eye examinations since the termination of universally free examinations omits some important factors.1 The article refers to the predicted number of referrals for glaucoma, although the actual number was on a par with the years just before the termination of the universally free examination.

Many optometry practices have stepped up pathology screening programmes in recent years. This reflects both the increased number of optometrists who have had training that places a greater emphasis on this aspect of the work and an increased awareness on the part of optometrists in general. Ever since the introduction of non-contact tonometry ophthalmologists have pointed out the shortcomings of a single and questionable reading on which to base referrals because it generates too many false positive . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

The sight test fee: effect on ophthalmology referrals and rate of glaucoma detection
D A H Laidlaw, P A Bloom, A O Hughes, J M Sparrow, and V J Marmion
BMJ 1994 309: 634-636. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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