LOCAL SURVEY OF OPTOMETRISTS ABOUT DILATED FUNDUSCOPIC EXAMINATIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETES - MAKING USE OF PHONE BOOK YELLOW-PAGE LISTINGS

The risk of blindness from retinopathy and macular edema is significan tly greater in people with diabetes than in the general public. Annual dilated funduscopic examinations are recommended for early detection and treatment before these problems become serious and thr-eaten visio n. Yet national health survey data indicate that only about half of pa tients with diabetes obtain an annual dilated funduscopic examination. This study surveyed optometrists listed in the NYNEX Yellow Pages (fo r the Bronx, NY) to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices r elated to dilated funduscopic examinations for patients with diabetes. Over half of the optometry practices in the survey indicated that dil ated funduscopic examinations were available at a relatively modest co st. However; the optometrists reported that less than one fourth of th e patients they saw with diabetes had knowledge about the purpose of a n annual dilated examination. Optometrists are readily available throu gh yellow-page listings. Their role as primary eye care providers in r etinopathy screening may increase with managed care.