The authors aimed to evaluate access to paediatric ophthalmology using geo-informatics (OpenStreetMap software) with the objectives being to calculate driving time between vision screening centres and eyecare providers (ophthalmologists or optometrists) coupled with mapping to demographic information and economic census data. The vision screening regions contained a population of 4,489,150 of which 309,763 were children <five years within an area of 27,263.5 square miles. Eyecare centres versus population was 30,538 and 641,308 people per optometrist or paediatric ophthalmologist. Regional distributions were 185.5 and 3,894.8 square miles per optometrist or paediatric ophthalmologist. Median driving time to optometrist or paediatric ophthalmologist was 4.7 and 25.1 minutes. Ninety percent of screening centres were within 12.5 minutes of the nearest optometrist and 67.2 minutes for paediatric ophthalmology. The longest driving times were for remote desert populations whilst shortest times were within urban cities. In general, eyecare centres were more likely to be within urban areas with higher populations and higher median incomes.
Access to eyecare based on geographical location
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe
Access to pediatric eye care following vision screening.
CONTRIBUTOR
Fiona Rowe (Prof)
Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, UK.
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