Verum writes: Shifting public thought on first place to go for eye care issues

Many optometrists within optical practices would like to be viewed by the general public as the first port of call for any problem or advice associated with eye care. We often hear that the optometrist should be the “general practitioner for eyes”.

However, public perception is quite different, as various patient surveys have shown that overwhelmingly the medical general practitioner will be the first port of call, with the optometrists not even coming a close second, as more patients would seek the advice of their pharmacist. Anyone with an understanding of the situation will appreciate that this behaviour is bizarre. Neither the GP or the pharmacist will have the equipment required to make a reasoned assessment of a patient’s condition and in many cases would not have the knowledge of eye conditions and their signs and symptoms. However, clearly the patient views their GP as knowledgeable on all matters, with the pharmacist perhaps perceived as the gatekeeper to various lotions and potions on sale in the pharmacy.