[Eye care in Greenland in 1979-1988]

Specialist eye care in Greenland is described on the basis of 66 reports from all 30 visiting consultants during a ten-year period. During this time the durations of the visits increased to approximately seven months per year for 8-9 ophthalmologists who undertook approximately 2,500 consultations annually. The diagnoses were distributed as follows: 30% anomalies of refraction, 15% cataract, 12% conditions in the posterior segment and 10% glaucoma, i.e. a considerable proportion of eye diseases associated with advancing age and with a particular Greenlandic influence. The workload was particularly great and averaged more than a reasonable weekly load despite the increase in number of days of employment. Until 1985-1986, eye surgery activities showed a considerable increase after which operative interventions for cataract and glaucoma were mainly referred to Rigshospitalet. The great increase in the number of referrals is discussed in relation to the marked changes in the therapeutic possibilities for cataract and glaucoma: extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber implantation using an operation microscope and YAG-laser iridectomy of early angle closure glaucoma. The requirement of an eye surgical unit in Greenland appears to be pressing together with continuation of specialist eye care in the districts.