The organisation of an ophthalmological service for diabetics in a teaching hospital.
A new system of ophthalmological evaluation of diabetic patients in a teaching hospital has been devised. All the patients attending the diabetic clinic were screened by ophthalmologists. Any patient with a problem was then referred to a diabetic ophthalmology clinic where a full evaluation was done and treatment given where necessary. In an 18-month period 1,015 new ophthalmological diabetic patients were screened. Of these patients 13.6% had background retinopathy, 8.4% pre-proliferative retinopathy and 3.4% proliferative retinopathy, while 8.6% had maculopathy. These results show that even in a teaching hospital a significant percentage of patients already have pre-proliferative or even proliferative retinopathy when seen by an ophthalmologist for the first time. The importance of organising an ophthalmological service for the diabetic patient is stressed.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Stellenbosch, Parowvallei, CP.
D P
DP
Mouton
A J
AJ
Gill
M M
MM
van Rooyen
D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013019:South Africa