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Abstract #13640 Published in IGR 8-2
Managing 'suspicious glaucomatous discs' identified during digital-photography-based diabetic retinopathy screening
Steele C; Steel D; Bone H; McParland L; Green L; Fraser SOphthalmic and Physiological Optics 2006; 26: 19-25
PURPOSE: An audit to demonstrate the outcome of patients identified with suspicious glaucomatous discs within a digital-photography-based diabetic retinopathy screening programme. METHODS: Primary care based digital photographic screening was performed utilising mydriasis and two-field digital photography for all patients with diabetes. Patients identified with discs suspicious of glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) were initially referred to an accredited community-based optometrist for further assessment. Some patients were then referred to secondary care where appropriate. RESULTS: From 1st April 2002 to 31st March 2003 a total of 3868 patients were screened for diabetic retinopathy. This audit revealed that 55 subjects were identified by retinal screeners as having discs suspicious of glaucoma. A total of 29 were already under glaucoma clinic review. A total of 23/26 remaining were referred for an assessment by an accredited optometrist. Of these 13 were normal, 6 were referred to secondary care and 4 failed to attend. The three remaining were referred directly to secondary care. CONCLUSIONS: All nine referrals to secondary care were deemed appropriate by a glaucoma specialist. This suggests that the system described does not lead to over-referral of suspicious discs - although the issue of how many glaucomatous discs are missed during screening (false negatives) will only be answered in the longer term.
Dr. C. Steele, Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Queen Alexandra Road, Sunderland SR2 9HP, UK
Classification:
1.6 Prevention and screening (Part of: 1 General aspects)
