BACK PAIN IN OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

A questionnaire regarding the working practices and incidence of back pain was sent to all 498 consultant ophthalmologists in the United Kin gdom. Three hundred and twenty-five (65.3%) questionnaires were analys ed by time spent in speciality, and time spent operating each week, On e hundred and seventy-four ophthalmologists (54%) had significant atta cks of back pain, with the longest-serving consultants having an incre ased incidence. The number and duration of acute attacks increased wit h years in speciality but was unrelated to time spent operating. Treat ment included analgesics in 97 (56%), physiotherapy in 40 (23%), and ' alternative' medical treatment including osteopathy and chiropraxy in 14 (8%); no treatment was needed in 56 (32%), Investigation and treatm ent increased with years spent in speciality, 49 (28%) seeking medical advice, usually from a specialist, and 69 (39%) requiring further inv estigations including plain radiographs, CT scans, myelograms and MRT scans. Nine surgeons needed surgery for back pain.