You are here

Article Text

Article menu

This article has a correction. Please see:

Download PDFPDF
Scientific correspondence
Use of vision tests in clinical decision making about cataract surgery: results of a national survey
  1. N A Frost,
  2. J M Sparrow
  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bristol
  1. Mr N A Frost, Bristol Eye Hospital, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LX

Abstract

AIM To provide information on the use of vision tests in clinical decision making about cataract surgery in the UK.

METHOD A questionnaire survey was mailed to 703 consultant ophthalmologists.

RESULTS A response rate of 70% was obtained. Monocular distance visual acuity was the only visual function that was tested routinely by all surgeons. Supplementary use of contrast sensitivity and glare testing was low. Many surgeons (35%) were willing to consider surgery at acuity levels better than 6/9 and a small but substantial number (12%) indicated that they did not use an acuity criterion. Being prepared to consider surgery at relatively good levels of acuity was not associated with more common use of other tests of vision.

CONCLUSION Many UK surgeons are prepared to consider cataract extraction at relatively good levels of visual acuity and use other vision tests infrequently.

  • cataract surgery
  • visual impairment
  • questionnaire

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.84.4.432

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text

    Footnotes

    Linked Articles

    • Correction
      Correction for vol. 84, p. 432
      BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR
      British Journal of Ophthalmology 2000; 84 1083-1083 Published Online First: 01 Sep 2000.