PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - A Fink
AU  - L Wright
AU  - R Wormald
TI  - Detection and prevention of treatable visual failure in general practice: room for improvement?
DP  - 1994 Dec 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - 587--589
VI  - 44
IP  - 389
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/44/389/587.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/44/389/587.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract1994 Dec 01; 44
AB  - An ageing population, the introduction of sight test charges and a problem that has never been adequately addressed since the inception of the National Health Service presents general practitioners with the increasing burden of detecting and preventing visual failure which they feel poorly equipped to deal with. Ophthalmology in general practice is a fundamental requirement for the reduction of avoidable visual failure and this is probably especially true for elderly patients and diabetic patients. A postal survey of general practitioners in Brent and Harrow suggests that there is potential for major improvements in the delivery of eye care by general practitioners, often without much additional expenditure (the equipment is there but it is not used) and with minimal training requirements. Simple changes in already existing screening programmes could potentially have an immediate effect on the visual well-being of the community.