The sight test fee: effect on ophthalmology referrals and rate of glaucoma detection

Abstract

Objective: To assess changes, if any, in the numbers of referrals and outcome of glaucoma referrals to the hospital eye service since the introduction of the sight test fee on 1 April 1989.

Design: Review of referral records and clinical notes.

Setting: Referrals to the Bristol Eye Hospital.

Subjects: 51,919 patients referred to the Bristol Eye Hospital between 1984 and 1992. 9438 case notes of patients referred between 1987 and 1991 were examined in detail.

Main outcome measures: Numbers of referrals; rate of adult true positive glaucoma referrals.

Results: Referrals to the Bristol Eye Hospital were between 13.7% and 19.0% fewer than expected after the introduction of the sight test fee. True positive glaucoma referrals were reduced by the same proportion.

Conclusions: The numbers of patients being identified as requiring treatment or follow up for potentially blinding glaucoma have declined by nearly one fifth since the introduction of the sight test fee. An increased prevalence of preventable blindness may result.