This issue is all about communication along the patient pathway – whether in the optometric practice, in an ophthalmologists’ consulting room, a hospital environment or a research lab.
It’s an enormous topic to cover, and an important one because, as Dr. Andrew White comments in our lead story, “clear communication between referring optometrists and ophthalmologists is a cornerstone of holistic patient care and enables a consistent message to be presented to patients”.
In mipatient this issue, optometrist Margaret Lam gives a brilliant example of the need for clear and consistent communication, citing the case of a patient who required the collaborative services of two optometrists and three ophthalmologists to manage a post corneal graft, complex glaucoma, post central retinal vein occlusion and contact lenses. Extraordinary!
Our ophthalmology column also touches on the topic with Dr. Adrian Fung writing about the rare autosomal recessive disorder known as Pseudoxanthoma elasticum, which inevitably requires collaboration (and regular communication) between a patient’s GP, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, gastroenterologist and cardiologist.
“clear communication between referring optometrists and ophthalmologists is a cornerstone of holistic patient care”
In mizone Alan Saks presents a compelling business case for clear and consistent communication. Among other examples, he refers to a patient with unique needs due to a speech impediment. Having been listened to carefully by his optometrist, who then advised an ophthalmologist on the preferred approach to communication, Alan says the patient expressed his appreciation and made it clear that he will be a customer for life.
Michael Jacobs also turns his attention to communication this issue, writing about the value of clear communication between colleagues when handing a patient from the consulting room through to dispensing. As Michael says, the optometrist’s role extends well beyond testing eyes to understanding the patient’s lifestyle needs and filling the patient with confidence about the expertise of other service providers within the practice.
As we head into Macular Degeneration Awareness Week (22–28 May), Professor Alex Hunyor presents three research papers for your consideration. One of those papers, authored by Professor Mark Gillies, describes a global study of long-term outcomes of patients receiving anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. By collaborating to collect and track ‘real world’ data relating to treatments for macular degeneration in Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland, Gillies et al hope to build and communicate knowledge that will make a difference to vision outcomes for generations to come.
In mieducation, we have three modules to present. David Stephenson and Dr. Daniel Hook write on the evolution of contact lens materials and why this matters so much to patient satisfaction. Professor Mark Willcox writes on managing the vicious circle of dry eye disease and our third article discusses contact lens discomfort – addressing the unmet need “the decliners”, tear film physiology and the interaction between tears and contact lenses.
On a more creative note, in fashion news, we interview Blake Kuwahara, a fourth generation Japanese American who describes his eyewear as “a mashup of my colliding aesthetics with special attention paid to sculpting and tactility”. Now that’s communication.
