Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of irreversible blindness in the United States due to its insidious progression and diagnosis in late stages. The cost-effectiveness of screening for glaucoma has been debated, and screening of high-risk groups for glaucoma has been recommended. Because glaucoma affects population subgroups disproportionately, screening initiatives directed toward high-risk groups may be beneficial. In this study, the authors compare outcomes of glaucoma screening in primary care and community settings including the follow-up rates of subjects with positive screening results after evaluating 215 patients; 117 and 98 patients screened at the community and at primary care settings respectively. It was observed that patients with a positive screening result for glaucoma in a primary care setting are more likely to have follow-up than those in a community setting. Furthermore, screening in primary care settings significantly decreases the number of patients lost to follow-up and the follow-up rates of racial and ethnic minorities were significantly higher when screened in primary care settings. The study was limited by the relatively small sample size and the study population restricted to a single region.
Glaucoma screening in primary care and community settings
Reviewed by Patti Mopamboli Mboli
Comparison of outcomes of glaucoma screening in primary care and community settings.
