Streamlining glaucoma outpatient services

A high proportion of cataract patients referred to glaucoma clinics in the UK are routine cases without glaucoma

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A high proportion of cataract patients referred to glaucoma clinics in the UK are routine cases without glaucoma and do not require follow-up by glaucoma specialists, said Lai-Yeung Ngai MD, Department of Glaucoma, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK. A retrospective analysis of  all cataract  operations performed within the glaucoma service at the Moorfields Hospital at St George’s Hospital   in London from January to  July 2017 showed that over half were could have been reviewed postoperatively by nurses or optometrists without referral to glaucoma specialists, Dr Ngai told 13th EGS Congress in Florence, Italy That is, of 250 cataract operations performed within the glaucoma service, 38% were routine procedures and 15% were OHT/glaucoma suspects. Only 4% had a combined glaucoma procedures with no reported complications. Postoperatively, 81% were reviewed by a glaucoma specialist at a mean interval of 2.1 weeks. Of these 50% were deemed ‘justifiable management’, and 62% were judged to be suitable for follow-up by associated health-care professionals. “Given these results, we will aim to draft protocols for the postoperative review of cataract patients, to ensure appointments are appropriate for the patient, and risk stratified accordingly. If routine cataracts could be seen outside of the glaucoma clinics, this could lead to significant savings and a reduced burden upon the specialist clinics,” Dr Ngai concluded.