Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2005 Sep;89(9):1102-4.
doi: 10.1136/bjo.2004.064378.

Outcomes of referrals by community optometrists to a hospital glaucoma service

B Bowling  1 , S D M Chen, J F Salmon
Affiliations

Outcomes of referrals by community optometrists to a hospital glaucoma service

B Bowling et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2005 Sep.

Abstract

Aim: To determine the outcomes resulting from optometric referrals to a specialist glaucoma screening clinic over a 10 year period.

Methods: Details of the initial clinical assessment of all new patients referred to the adult glaucoma screening clinic at Oxford Eye Hospital were collected prospectively from July 1994 to June 2004.

Results: Optometrists working in community practice initiated 2505 referrals. Of these, glaucoma was confirmed in 510 patients (20.4%), including 160 with normal intraocular pressure (IOP). A diagnosis of ocular hypertension was made in 747 patients (29.8% of referrals) and 125 (5.0%) were categorised as glaucoma suspects. There was no evidence of a diagnostic trend over the period of data collection. Treatment to lower IOP was commenced in 458 patients (18.3%). Nearly half of those referred, 1148 (45.8%), were discharged from ophthalmological review at the first visit.

Conclusion: In this survey, the largest of its nature, only one in five subjects had glaucoma and nearly half were discharged from hospital ophthalmological review. The findings provide a baseline against which the effectiveness of any future system of glaucoma detection in the United Kingdom can be compared.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Glaucoma Subgroup Report. In: First report of the National Eye Care Services Steering Group, National Eye Care Steering Group. London: Department of Health, 2004:1–13.
    1. Clearkin L , Harcourt B. Referral pattern of true and suspected glaucoma to an adult ophthalmic clinic. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 1983;103:284–7. - PubMed
    1. Harrison RJ, Wild JM, Hobley AJ. Referral patterns to an ophthalmic outpatient clinic by general practitioners and ophthalmic opticians and the role of these professionals in screening for ocular disease. BMJ 1988;297:1162–7. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Brittain GPH, Austin DJ, Kelly SP. A prospective study to determine sources and diagnostic accuracy of glaucoma referrals. Health Trends 1988;20:43–4. - PubMed
    1. Tuck MW, Crick RP. Efficiency of referral for suspected glaucoma. BMJ 1991;302:998–1000. - PMC - PubMed