Retinal exams requested at Primary Care Unit: indications, results and alternative strategies of evaluation

3Citations
Citations of this article
88Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate indications, results and strategy of retinal exams requested at Primary Care Units. METHODS: A retrospective study that analyzed the indications and results of retinal exams, in the modalities clinical dilated fundus exams and color fundus photographs. In the following situations, patients were considered eligible for color fundus photographs if visual acuity was normal and ocular symptoms were absent: diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension, in use of drugs with potential retinal toxicity, diagnosis or suspicion of glaucoma, stable and asymptomatic retinopathies, except myopia greater than -3.00 diopters. RESULTS: A total of 1,729 patients were evaluated (66% female, age 63.5±15.5 years), and 1,190 underwent clinical dilated fundus exam and 539 underwent color fundus photographs. Diabetes was present in 32.2%. The main indications were diabetes (23.7%) and glaucoma evaluation (23.5%). In 3.4% of patients there was no apparent indication. The main results were a large cup/disc ratio (30.7%) and diabetic retinopathy (13.2%). Exam was normal in 9.6%, detected peripheral changes in 7% and could not be performed in 1%. Considering patients eligible for fundus photographs (22.4%), more than half underwent clinical dilated fundus exams. CONCLUSION: Regarding exam modality, there were no important differences in the distribution of indications or diagnosis. Color fundus photograph is compatible with telemedicine and more cost-effective, and could be considered the strategy of choice in some scenarios. Since there are no clear guidelines for retinal exams indications or the modality of choice, this study may contribute to such standardization, in order to optimize public health resources.

Cited by Powered by Scopus

The Role of Telemedicine, In-Home Testing and Artificial Intelligence to Alleviate an Increasingly Burdened Healthcare System: Diabetic Retinopathy

36Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment through the Brazilian National Health Insurance

12Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Non-mydriatic fundus photography as an alternative to indirect ophthalmoscopy for screening of diabetic retinopathy in community settings: A comparative pilot study in rural and tribal India

6Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Malerbi, F. K., Carneiro, A. B. M., Katz, M., & Lottenberg, C. L. (2020). Retinal exams requested at Primary Care Unit: indications, results and alternative strategies of evaluation. Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil), 18, eGS4913. https://doi.org/10.31744/einstein_journal/2020GS4913

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 17

57%

Researcher 8

27%

Lecturer / Post doc 3

10%

Professor / Associate Prof. 2

7%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Medicine and Dentistry 22

65%

Nursing and Health Professions 9

26%

Economics, Econometrics and Finance 2

6%

Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceut... 1

3%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free