Viewpoint: Time to learn

Last week, I saw a patient who wanted me to confirm her self-diagnosis of iritis and sell her some artificial tears that people on her Facebook page have recommended for her. I’m no clinician but her symptoms didn’t sound like iritis to me. Besides, if it was iritis, Hypromellose wouldn’t help much.

I could have told her that iritis doesn’t usually present with sticky, gunky eyes but thankfully it’s not my place to say any of that so instead I triaged her and gave an appropriate appointment with someone who could confirm, or rule out, a diagnosis. That balancing act of background knowledge, teamwork with clinical colleagues and communication with patients has followed me throughout my career.