Search

The article profiles author Arthur G. Bennett. It says that he has developed the British Standards for ophthalmic lenses and spectacle frames while he was still at Stigmat. It says that he has written his book "Clinical Visual Optics" with his collaborator Ronald Rabbetts. He has mounted and catalogued the collection of ophthalmic lenses at the British Optical Association museum in London, England.

Objectives: To explore the views of optometrists, general practitioners (GPs) and ophthalmologists regarding the development and organisation of community-based enhanced optometric services., Design: Qualitative study using free-text questionnaires and telephone interviews., Setting: A minor eye conditions scheme (MECS) and a glaucoma referral refinement scheme (GRRS) are based on accredited community optometry practices., Participants: 41 optometrists, 6 ophthalmologists and 25 GPs., Results: The most common reason given by optometrists for participation in enhanced schemes was to further their professional development; however, as providers of 'for-profit' healthcare, it was clear that participants had also considered the impact of the schemes on their business. Lack of fit with the 'retail' business model of optometry was a frequently given reason for non-participation. The methods used for training and accreditation were generally thought to be appropriate, and participating optometrists welcomed the opportunities for ongoing training. The ophthalmologists involved in the MECS and GRRS expressed very positive views regarding the schemes and widely acknowledged that the new care pathways would reduce unnecessary referrals and shorten patient waiting times. GPs involved in the MECS were also very supportive. They felt that the scheme provided an 'expert' local opinion that could potentially reduce the number of secondary care referrals., Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated strong stakeholder support for the development of community-based enhanced optometric services. Although optometrists welcomed the opportunity to develop their professional skills and knowledge, enhanced schemes must also provide a sufficient financial incentive so as not to compromise the profitability of their business., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)

Aims: Standardised patient (SP) methodology is the gold standard for evaluating clinical practice. We investigated the content of optometric eyecare for an early presbyopic SP of African racial descent, an "at-risk" patient group for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)., Methods: A trained actor presented unannounced as a 44-year-old patient of African racial descent, complaining of recent near vision difficulties, to 100 community optometrists for an audio-recorded eye examination. The eye examinations were subsequently assessed via a checklist based on evidence-based POAG reviews, clinical guidelines and expert panel opinion., Results: Ninety-five per cent of optometrists carried out optic disc assessment and tonometry, which conforms to the UK College of Optometrists' advice that those patients aged >40 years should receive at least two of the following tests: tonometry, optic disc assessment, visual field testing. Thirty-five per cent of optometrists carried out all of these tests and 6% advised the SP of increased POAG risk in those of African racial descent., Conclusion: SP encounters are an effective measure of optometric clinical practice. As in other healthcare disciplines, there are substantial differences between optometrists in the depth of their clinical investigations, challenging the concept of a "standard sight test". There is a need for continuing professional development (CPD) in glaucoma screening, in which the increased risk of POAG in those of African racial descent should be emphasised.