[Reasons for return of patients for consultation after prescription for corrective glasses]

To determine the frequency and causes of patients' complaints when they return visit less than one year after refraction.

Among all the patients who received a prescription of corrective glasses from January to December 1996, we include in the study those who returned less than one year after the refraction because they were dissatisfied with their spectacles. In order to determine the cause of their complaints, the patients were evaluated ophthalmologically and, depending on the complaints, an oto-rhino-laryngologic, dental, cardiovascular or neuro-psychiatric evaluation was made.

During this period, 432 patients underwent refraction and had a prescription of corrective glasses. Of these, only 12 (2.8%) came back to consult. A cause could be found in 11 patients: error by opticians (3 patients), intolerance to bifocals (1 patient) and to cylindric lenses (1 patient), sudden onset of hyperopia associated with diabetes mellitus (1 patient), increase of refraction associated with progressive myopia (2 patients), fronto-maxillary sinusitis (1 patient), arterial hypertension (1 patient) and cataract (1 patient).

Patients who received corrective glasses and return a short item after the refraction with complaints about their spectacles must be reevaluated ophthalmologically. If any cause can't be found, the evaluation should be extended to oto-rhino-laryngologic, dental, cardiovascular, neuro-psychiatric or other examination depending on complaints.