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How do general practitioners manage eye disease in the community?
1Department of Ophthalmology, St Thomas's Hospital, London.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|October 1, 1988
Summary
Community eye disease management was surveyed, revealing common conditions like bacterial conjunctivitis and blepharitis. Topical chloramphenicol was the most frequent treatment, with a 15% referral rate to specialists.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Primary Care Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Eye diseases represent a significant reason for primary care consultations.
- Understanding community-based eye condition management is crucial for healthcare planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey the management of common eye diseases within general practice settings.
- To determine the incidence, common diagnoses, treatment patterns, and referral rates for ocular conditions in the community.
Main Methods:
- A prospective survey was conducted over three months in two general practices.
- All patient consultations for ocular symptoms were recorded and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Eye disease accounted for 2.3% of all consultations (66 per 1000 persons).
- Bacterial conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, meibomian cyst, and blepharitis were the most frequent diagnoses (>70%).
- Topical chloramphenicol was prescribed in 55% of cases; 15% of consultations led to specialist referral.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, meibomian cyst, and blepharitis are the primary drivers of eye-related primary care visits.
- Current management predominantly involves topical treatments, with chloramphenicol being widely used.
- A notable proportion of cases require referral to hospital eye departments, highlighting the need for accessible specialist care.