Br J Ophthalmol 2001;85:319-321
( March )
The assessment of lens opacities in clinical practice: results of
a national survey
N A Frost, J M Sparrow
Department of
Ophthalmology, University of Bristol, UK
Correspondence to: Mr NA Frost, Bristol Eye Hospital, Lower Maudlin Street,
Bristol BS1 2LX, UK
Andy.Frost{at}bristol.ac.uk
Accepted for publication 24 October 2000
AIM
To investigate the
examination of lens opacities in routine ophthalmic clinical practice.
METHODA questionnaire
survey was mailed to 703 consultant ophthalmologists in the UK. The
surgeons were asked which lens feature(s) they assessed in their
clinics when deciding whether to offer cataract surgery.
RESULTS489 replies
were received. A broad range of lens opacities was assessed, with
differences between surgeons for some opacities with high prevalences
in the population, particularly cortical opacities. Many (74% of 467)
surgeons assessed one or more lens opacities (anterior subcapsular
cataract, vacuoles, water clefts, coronary flakes, focal dots,
retrodots, fibre folds) which may be visually important but which have
received relatively little attention by researchers.
CONCLUSIONSSome
classes of lens opacity which are traditionally measured by researchers
may be ignored in clinical practice and opacities which are
traditionally ignored by some researchers are regarded as clinically
important by a substantial number of surgeons.
© 2001 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
