Celebrity GP Dr Mark Porter has been buoyed by co-operation between medical and optical practices in his local area.
Speaking at the sidelines of insurance company RSA's Fit to Drive launch in London last week, Dr Porter told Optician that optometrists near his South Gloucestershire surgery were keen to get involved in shared care.
He said: 'GPs are working closer to optometrists than they used to be. We have a very close relationship with the high street optometrist, and patients are often transferred there with eye complaints.
'We can get these symptoms tested quickly on the high street. In surgery we are limited to using an ophthalmoscope, which tells you very little compared to what an optometrist has at their disposal.'
New-onset visual disturbances such as red and dry eye were the most common to be referred to optometrists, according to Dr Porter.
With proposed commissioning boards to be led by GPs, optical practices wanting to offer enhanced services have been urged to form strong relationships with local surgeries (News 09.09.11).
Dr Porter, whose brother and father both work in optics, commentates on health issues for a variety of national media outlets including BBC Radio 4's flagship medical series Case Notes.