PURPOSE: To investigate the content of referrals to a hospital eye department and describe differences between referring clinician (optometrist or GP) and referral formats. METHODS: A random sample of 433 new referrals to Bradford Royal Infirmary hospital eye service (HES) during 2007 and 2008 were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Three hundred and eleven referrals (72%) were from optometric practice and 122 (28%) from general practice. Optometric referrals were mainly for cataract and posterior capsular opacification (27%), glaucoma or suspect glaucoma (20%) and diabetic retinopathy (10%). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of referrals to the hospital eye service from optometrists appears to be increasing (1988: 39%, 1999: 48%, present study 72%). GPs mainly refer patients with anterior segment disorders, particularly lid lesions, based on direct observation and symptoms. Optometrists refer patients with a wide range of ocular diseases and include fundus observations and visual acuity measurements in their referrals. There is a need to inform optometrists of what content is required in a referral to the HES from GOS sight tests, at least for the common referral conditions such as age-related cataract and suspect open-angle glaucoma. Referral forms specifically designed for these commonly referred conditions are likely to improve referral quality.
PURPOSE: To investigate the content of referrals to a hospital eye department and describe differences between referring clinician (optometrist or GP) and referral formats. METHODS: A random sample of 433 new referrals to Bradford Royal Infirmary hospital eye service (HES) during 2007 and 2008 were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Three hundred and eleven referrals (72%) were from optometric practice and 122 (28%) from general practice. Optometric referrals were mainly for cataract and posterior capsular opacification (27%), glaucoma or suspect glaucoma (20%) and diabetic retinopathy (10%). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of referrals to the hospital eye service from optometrists appears to be increasing (1988: 39%, 1999: 48%, present study 72%). GPs mainly refer patients with anterior segment disorders, particularly lid lesions, based on direct observation and symptoms. Optometrists refer patients with a wide range of ocular diseases and include fundus observations and visual acuity measurements in their referrals. There is a need to inform optometrists of what content is required in a referral to the HES from GOS sight tests, at least for the common referral conditions such as age-related cataract and suspect open-angle glaucoma. Referral forms specifically designed for these commonly referred conditions are likely to improve referral quality.
Authors: Pete R Jones; Heiko Philippin; William U Makupa; Matthew J Burton; David P Crabb Journal: Ophthalmic Epidemiol Date: 2019-09-13 Impact factor: 1.648
Authors: S Leamon; C Hayden; H Lee; D Trudinger; E Appelbee; D-L Hurrell; I Richardson Journal: J Public Health (Oxf) Date: 2014-01-09 Impact factor: 2.341
Authors: Evgenia Konstantakopoulou; Robert A Harper; David F Edgar; Genevieve Larkin; Sarah Janikoun; John G Lawrenson Journal: BMJ Open Ophthalmol Date: 2018-02-20
Authors: Gokulan Ratnarajan; Wendy Newsom; Stephen A Vernon; Cecilia Fenerty; David Henson; Fiona Spencer; Yanfang Wang; Robert Harper; Andrew McNaught; Lisa Collins; Mike Parker; John Lawrenson; Robyn Hudson; Peng Tee Khaw; Richard Wormald; David Garway-Heath; Rupert Bourne Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2013-07-21 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Hannah Forbes; Matt Sutton; David F Edgar; John Lawrenson; Anne Fiona Spencer; Cecilia Fenerty; Robert Harper Journal: BMJ Open Ophthalmol Date: 2019-09-30