ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Today optometrists in Norway can refer patients directly to ophthalmologists. Our article evaluates the quality of this practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 198 referrals from optometrists and 208 from general practitioners were evaluated. RESULTS: We found the referrals to be relevant to the ophthalmologist for nearly 95% in both groups. INTERPRETATION: The existing practice in which optometrists can refer their patients directly to ophthalmologists should be continued.
Subject(s)
Ophthalmology , Optometry , Referral and Consultation , Family Practice , Humans , Norway , WorkforceSubject(s)
Fever/complications , Myopia/etiology , Adult , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
In a group of 46 patients with moderately elevated intraocular pressure (22-30 mmHg), signs of early glaucoma were found in half of them after a follow-up of 5-7.5 years. Most of the patients showed only a small increase in optic disc cupping revealed by stereophotography. Initial IOP higher than 25 mmHg, large pressure differences between the two eyes, large diurnal pressure variation, occurrence of pseudoexfoliation, pressure drop of more than 8 mmHg after topical epinephrine, and a pressure rise of more than 4 mmHg after water loading were more frequent in the group of patients who developed signs of glaucoma. Age, a positive family history, occurrence of cardiovascular disease, and the cup/disc ratio did not differ in the two groups of patients. The pilocarpine test and steroid provocation had no predictive value. Surprisingly, there was a small drop of pressure after topical steroids in 6 of the 8 patients with pseudoexfoliation.
Subject(s)
Glaucoma/diagnosis , Ocular Hypertension/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Follow-Up Studies , Glaucoma/drug therapy , Glaucoma/etiology , Humans , Middle Aged , Ocular Hypertension/complications , Ocular Hypertension/etiology , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
A group of 46 patients with ocular hypertension (initial pressure 22-30 mmHg) have been followed prospectively for 5-7.5 years, with special emphasis on optic disc changes. A stereophoto of the disc was taken at each consultation. So far, 24 patients have been put on anti-glaucoma therapy. A slight increase in disc cupping revealed by stereophoto was the first pathological finding in 19 patients. Only one patient developed a field defect without visible disc changes. Neither disc description, cup/disc ratio measurement nor disc drawing were accurate enough to disclose small changes in the cup size. Considerably more patients in the treatment group had a pressure rise of 5 mm or more and repeated intraocular pressures of 30 mm or more during the observation. Stereophotography of the optic disc was found to be a valuable method in the diagnosis of early glaucoma.
Subject(s)
Glaucoma/diagnosis , Optic Disk/pathology , Photography , Adult , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Glaucoma/pathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Visual FieldsABSTRACT
The object of this work has been to describe an eye anomaly consisting of a series of individual characteristics. As a name for the disorder "the nasal fundus ectasia" has been selected. Special attention has been paid to the bitemporal visual field defects which can easily lead to a suspicion of tumour in the region of the optic chiasm.
