Half of all glaucoma sufferers go undiagnosed, despite 50 per cent of these cases having had an eye test in the past year, according to researchers at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA). And they hope to change this with an online training program aimed at improving glaucoma detection rates. Research Assistant Jessica Brennan said the Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy Evaluation (GONE) project tests optic disc assessment skills and highlights the subtle characteristics of glaucoma that are easily missed in routine eye exams.
“Understanding the common problems faced in glaucoma assessment will help us develop a customised training program and give optometrists greater confidence to diagnose glaucoma and refer patients to ophthalmologists,” Ms Brennan said.
“Ultimately, an improvement in diagnosis rates will allow patients to seek treatment sooner and significantly reduce the rate of preventable vision loss caused by the disease”.
Ms Brennan said optometrists will be eligible to receive two CPD points on completion of the assessment.
“The anonymous assessment takes only 45 minutes and is available to all eye care practitioners. Best of all it’s free and gives people instant feedback,” Ms Brennan said.
More than 800 eye care professionals have registered to participate in the study. Researchers hope the training tool will be available at the end of this year. To register for the GONE project visit www.gone-project.com
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