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Students, residents should be involved in glaucoma screenings
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NEW YORK — Medical schools and ophthalmic residency programs should involve medical students and residents in their glaucoma screening efforts, one glaucoma specialist speaking here suggested.
Eve J. Higginbotham, MD, said one reason there are not more glaucoma screening programs in place is the lack of a public mandate for the programs. In addition, she said, paradoxically, more research into the effectiveness of glaucoma screening is required to justify more funding for screenings.
“You would think that we have all the data that we need, but we don’t,” Dr. Higginbotham said.
She said medical students should be given more active exposure to ophthalmology, and glaucoma screening programs present the perfect opportunity. For many medical students, participation in a screening might be their only “comprehensive exposure” to ophthalmology, Dr. Higginbotham said.
She said early detection of glaucoma is important because studies have shown that treatment can slow the progression of glaucoma. Evaluations performed in glaucoma screenings can include risk factor assessment, visual acuity measurement for both near and distance, the use of frequency doubling technology perimetry in screening mode and exit interviews, she said.
“It’s more effective to treat [people with glaucoma] early,” Dr. Higginbotham said. “Everyone has a responsibility. It’s not going to come from those persons who have the money, but each one of us.”
Dr. Higginbotham spoke at the New Frontiers in Glaucoma II conference, presented by Columbia University.