Practitioners’ opinions on the presentation of ocu- lar pathology and ametropia in patients wearing ready-made reading spectacles

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a study to de- termine optometrists’ opinions on the presentation of ocular pathology and ametropia in patients wear- ing ready-made reading spectacles. Ninety-seven optometrists completed a questionnaire pertain- ing to ametropia and ocular diseases among these patients. The questionnaire contained information regarding patient demographics, ocular pathology, ocular ametropia and the regulatory and public health aspects of ready-made readers. Ninety-five percent of respondents stated that they had seen patients with ready-made readers in their practice and 62% of these stated that they had found the presence of ocular pathology in these pa- tients. The pathologies most commonly reported as seen by practitioners were dry eye (86% of practi- tioners), cataracts (80%) and diabetic retinopathy (54%). In addition, 39% of practitioners reported seeing patients with anisometropia. The majority of practitioners (71%) stated that they sold ready- made readers in their practice. Sixty-three percent of practitioners indicated that they would be pre-

pared to offer a service whereby a reduced consul- tation fee and a pair of ready-made readers could be incorporated into an indigent “package”. An over- whelming 88% of the practitioners felt that the sale of ready-made readers should be more regulated and 74% of practitioners felt that the Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians should be responsible for monitoring their sale. The research suggests that wearers of ready- made readers should be screened for ocular pathol- ogy, reduced visual acuity and amblyopia. Current regulations should be tightened and a public aware- ness education campaign should be initiated. The use of ready-made reading spectacles, in deference to an eye examination by an optometrist, appears to be largely as a result of the perceived costs of pri- vate practice combined with ignorance and apathy