Sight Test Fee Research Articles

Provision of eye care: Commissioning change

Provision of eye care: Commissioning change

The sight test fee Many people cannot afford to pay fees for NHS services

The sight test fee Many people cannot afford to pay fees for NHS services

The sight test fee 1988 data may be misleading

The sight test fee 1988 data may be misleading

The sight test fee Little evidence to support conclusions

EDITOR, - D A H Laidlaw and colleagues' paper on the effect of the sight test fee precipitated a predictable furore in the media.1 I was disappointed to see that the authors had included data from 1988 when …

The sight test fee Need for more cautious analysis

EDITOR, - D A H Laidlaw and colleagues describe the effect of the introduction of the sight test fee on the number of referrals to Bristol Eye Hospital.1 They use the numbers of referrals for 1984-8 to predict the expected numbers of referrals in 1989-92. This use of their data would have been appropriate if the introduction of the fee on 1 April 1989 had been made without prior warning. …

The sight test fee Potential to spread alarm

The sight test fee Potential to spread alarm

The sight test fee Authors' reply

The sight test fee Authors' reply

The sight test fee Similar experience in Leeds

The sight test fee Similar experience in Leeds

The sight test fee Relatives at risk can have free test

The sight test fee Relatives at risk can have free test

The sight test fee: effect on ophthalmology referrals and rate of glaucoma detection.

To assess changes, if any, in the numbers of referrals and outcome of glaucoma referrals to the hospital eye service since the introduction of the sight test fee on 1 April 1989. Review of referral records and clinical notes. Referrals to the Bristol Eye Hospital. 51,919 patients referred to the Bristol Eye Hospital between 1984 and 1992. 9438 case notes of patients referred between 1987 and 1991 were examined in detail. Numbers of referrals; rate of adult true positive glaucoma referrals. Referrals to the Bristol Eye Hospital were between 13.7% and 19.0% fewer than expected after the introduction of the sight test fee. True positive glaucoma referrals were reduced by the same proportion. The numbers of patients being identified as requiring treatment or follow up for potentially blinding glaucoma have declined by nearly one fifth since the introduction of the sight test fee. An increased prevalence of preventable blindness may result.