DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF TREATABLE VISUAL FAILURE IN GENERAL-PRACTICE - ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

An ageing population, the introduction of sight test charges and a pro blem that has never been adequately addressed since the inception of t he National Health Service presents general practitioners with the inc reasing burden of detecting and preventing visual failure which they f eel poorly equipped to deal with. Ophthalmology in general practice is a fundamental requirement for the reduction of avoidable visual failu re and this is probably especially true for elderly patients and diabe tic patients. A postal survey of general practitioners in Brent and Ha rrow suggests that there is potential for major improvements in the de livery of eye care by general practitioners, often without much additi onal expenditure (the equipment is there but it is not used) and with minimal training requirements. Simple changes in already existing scre ening programmes could potentially have an immediate effect on the vis ual well-being of the community.