Optometrist Prescribing Flashcards
What are two non-specialist healthcare professionals that deal with ophthalmic management?
GPs and pharmacists
What happened in 2005 regarding chloramphenicol?
It was reclassified from a POM to a P medicine - ONLY for acute bacterial conjunctivitis
What year was the Opticians Act processes?
1960
What year did the medicines Act come into place?
1968
What does current legislation allow optometrists to do?
Diagnose and manage a range of eye disease
Can registered optometrists access a range of therapeutic agents to treat common non-sight threatening conditions?
Yes
Name three enhanced service pathways which have been introduced.
1) Glaucoma repeat measures
2) Glaucoma referral refinement
3) PEARS/MECS
What does PEARS stand for?
Primary Eye Assessment and Referral Service- in Wales
What does MECS stand for?
Minor Eye condition Service
What does CUES stand for and why did it come about?
Covid-19 Urgent Eyecare Service- service in response to the pandemic
What optometrists are allowed to conduct MECS?
Optometrists that have undergone additional training
Describe the training required for optometrists to be accredited a MECS.
- Distance learning modules to be completed followed by an MCQ
- Practical assessment
- Days experience in the hospital eye service casualty
- Accreditation to provide that service
In terms of what is prescribes, what percentage of topical or oral medication was given to patients who visited MECS?
Around 48% were given oral or topical medication to manage their eye conditions which hugely compares to 75% which GPs were prescribing topical antibiotics
What eye condition did majority of patients come in presenting with in MECS?
Red eye
Name the three type of referral urgencies.
1) Emergency- same day
2) Urgent - within the same week
3) Routine referral
