ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To determine the current leading causes of new patient consults at the out-patient general clinic of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS), Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal (SOJR). METHODS: The data were gathered from the DOVS out-patient general clinic monthly census. Compilation and tabulation of the diagnoses of all new patients from January to December 2009 were done.RESULTS: The leading causes of new patient consults were cataract (30.8%), error of refraction (20.1%), pterygium (6.1%), conjunctivitis (4.9%), dysfunctional tear syndrome (4.5%), glaucoma (4.3%), diabetic retinopathy (3.7%), and hypertensive retinopathy (3.4%). CONCLUSION: Cataract and error of refraction comprise the majority of all causes of consultation among new patients.