title: [Ophthalmic disease in diabetes mellitus: management from primary health care].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the feasibility of a basic ophthalmological examination for the eye disease in diabetic patients by Primary Health Care (PHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-centre prospective study. A sample of 712 type 2 diabetics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Visual acuity examination, intraocular pressure measurement and the eye fundus photograph with a non-mydriatic camera taken by an optometrist. The interpretation and subsequent referral to an ophthalmology department by ophthalmologists and general practitioners (GP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visual acuity deficiency: GP, 43.7%; ophthalmologist, 36.1%; concordance, 70%; glaucoma suspicion: GP, 8.8%; ophthalmologist, 7.6%; concordance, 94%; diabetic retinopathy: GP, 28.2%; ophthalmologist, 13.4%; concordance, 78%. Ophthalmology Department referral: GP, 56.8%; ophthalmologist, 41.3% (P=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Agreement between GP and ophthalmologist leads to a reliable ophthalmological examination of the diabetic patient in PHC. Despite an over-diagnosis and 16% of non-justified referrals by the GP, Ophthalmology Department referral is avoided in almost half of the diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: CAP Terrassa Nord, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. mjsender@cst.cat
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sender Palacios
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vernet Vernet
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maseras Bové
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvador Playà
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pascual Batlle
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ondategui Parra
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jovell Fernández
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies