Lack of awareness and pathways hits eye patients

High street practitioners are well-equipped to free up overburdened hospitals with long waiting lists for patients with eye conditions including cataract, glaucoma, diabetes-related problems and macular degeneration.

However, a lack of referral pathway is preventing GPs from using this alternative service, according to a letter by optometrist Dr James Gilchrist published in the British Medical Journal.

‘At least three factors prevent GPs from referring patients to optometrists: poor awareness of optometrists’ expertise, no referral pathway, and concern that patients may be encouraged to purchase expensive spectacles,’ the letter said.

Dr Gilchrist, senior lecturer in optometry and vision science at the University of Bradford, said there was poor awareness of the expertise optometrists and dispensing opticians have.