- A recent study that was published in Eye assessed how well optometrists performed when administering selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), a therapy for glaucoma.
- The study assesses a training program designed by the Institute of Ophthalmology at UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital to enable non-medical practitioners to administer lasers, including SLT.
- Six optometrists who finished the course and conducted 240 laser operations were also the subject of a clinical audit.
- Preliminary findings show that skilled optometrists apply the appropriate clinical guidelines and perform safe laser procedures. The authors noted that skilled optometrists can handle a substantial clinical load and operate independently after investing some time in training.
- One patient experienced post-laser corneal haze, while the other experienced cystoid macular edema following the 240 sessions.
- The authors reported that “both resolved with the appropriate treatment without a permanent effect on vision.”
- The nation is experiencing a scarcity of senior ophthalmologists, according to the study, and a 20% increase in glaucoma cases is predicted in the next ten years.
- Since 20% of senior ophthalmologists’ time in the NHS is spent on complex patients requiring a higher level of decision-making and surgical expertise, it is imperative to assign non-complex situations to other specialists.
Source:
aop.org.uk
