ArticleJournal of optometry
Exploring the effect of optometrist practice type on NHS funded sight test outcome.
Article in Journal of optometry. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Who Gets Referred for What? Large Scale Analysis of Clinical, Socioeconomic and Demographic Drivers Within Electronic Optometry Referrals.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2026Article
- Deprivation and the location of primary care optometry services in England.Eye (London, England) · 2024Article
- Referrals from community optometrists to the hospital eye service in Scotland and England.Eye (London, England) · 2022Article
- Investigating target refraction advice provided to cataract surgery patients by UK optometrists and ophthalmologists.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2022Article
- A prospective evaluation of the clinical safety and effectiveness of a COVID-19 Urgent Eyecare Service across five areas in England.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2022Article
- Danish teleophthalmology platform reduces optometry referrals into the national eye care system.BMJ open ophthalmology · 2021Article
- Design and use of vignettes to investigate referral decision-making by optometrists.Journal of optometryArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service (NHS) currently provides sight tests at no cost to patients for all those aged <16 or ≥60. Some 'at-risk' patients and those in receipt of means-tested benefits are eligible for a NHS sight test between the ages of 16 and 60. In the UK, community optometrists typically either work in independent or national chain practices (multiples). The present study aims to explore whether practice type has any association with sight test outcome. As sight tests are essential in detecting early childhood visual problems, we also aim to explore children's first sight tests.
methodData from 664,480 NHS sight test claims submitted in Essex from April 2015 to September 2016 were analysed using regression analysis. Practice type (multiple, independent) and children's first sight test were examined with respect to socio-economic status (SES, based on index of multiple deprivation rankings), age and sight test outcome.
resultsThe median age for a first NHS sight test was 6 years old and was clinically independent of SES. Children's first sight tests typically resulted in neither a spectacle prescription being issued nor an onwards referral. Patients that attend multiples are significantly more likely to receive a new prescription, relative to no prescription, compared to a patient attending an independent (p<.001).
conclusionsInequalities in sight test outcome appear to exist with differing type of practice (independent or multiple). Choice of practice type appears to be influenced by SES. Children have their first sight test at a later age than recommended.
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