The short‐sighted perspective of long‐term eye health‐care

Abstract

Eye health‐care in Australia encompasses patients with chronic disorders being referred to ophthalmologists for detailed assessment and subsequent management. An increasing case load and relative decrease in ophthalmologists predicted over the next few years portend of an upcoming bottleneck in care delivery. To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care within a rapidly changing health system, we propose that minor adjustments to existing services could improve the proficiency of resources. Such changes will require service providers to rethink their positions and roles and actively collaborate with each other for improved patient outcomes.

Key words:

• age‐related macular degeneration
• co‐management
• diabetes
• glaucoma
• health care
• multidisciplinary
• ocular health
• ophthalmologists
• optometrists

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Angelica Ly for editorial guidance. The work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC:1033224). Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is a partner on the NHMRC grant. Khalid F Jamous was supported by a scholarship from King Saud University at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Additional information

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia

King Saud University at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia