Survey finds public is confused about who performs eye care

Respondents were unsure about the qualifications of optometrists vs. ophthalmologists.

Issue: January 1, 2006

ByLauren Wolkoff

The public is confused about who is practicing eye care and who should be performing eye surgery, according to a recent survey commissioned by the National Consumers League.

The survey found the public unclear on whether optometrists have earned medical degrees or can be board certified, according to a National Consumers League (NCL) press release.

Despite this confusion, respondents indicated they strongly prefer ophthalmologists for their more advanced eye care needs, according to the survey. Upon being provided with information about the differences between eye care providers, respondents said they would rather have an ophthalmologist perform certain more advanced eye care procedures, such as prescribing medications and surgery.

A Washington-based medical research firm called TNS jstreet executed the study, which was funded by an unrestricted educational grant by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. TNS jstreet programmed the online survey, processed the data, provided updates and prepared the final report.

Bolstering the AAO’s argument

AAO Executive Vice President H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD, cited the NCL survey as evidence that the public has become an ally in ophthalmologists’ battle to limit optometric scope of practice. He discussed the results of the survey in October at the AAO’s annual meeting in Chicago.

“[The survey] showed that people want to know who is doing [surgery] and they do care who does what to them,” he said during the meeting’s opening session. “The battle continues and everyone must participate.”

H. Dunbar Hoskins, Jr.

Methodology

The research, conducted via the Internet, polled 600 adults over the age of 25. People under 25 were not eligible because it was thought that they would be less likely to need vision care or fully understand distinctions between different eye care practitioners, according to the National Consumers League’s white paper detailing the survey’s findings.

The proportion of men to women respondents was nearly even.

The respondents participated in a 20-minute online survey in July 2005. They were asked a series of questions about what kind of eye care provider they already routinely see, as well as which kind they would prefer to see for a variety of hypothetical indications. Respondents were also asked how frequently they visit an eye care provider, as well as how far a distance they travel for the appointment.

The majority of respondents (86%) wore glasses or contacts, or had undergone corrective eye surgery. Of the 600 who were surveyed, 500 represent 49 states proportionately, with the remaining 100 representing Oklahoma.

As the only state that licenses optometrists to perform laser eye surgery, Oklahoma has been at the center of the debate surrounding optometric scope of practice.

Results

The survey first examined respondents’ general preference for eye care professionals. Over half (53%) reported that they see an optometrist for routine eye care, while 28% said they see an ophthalmologist for routine care.

The remainder of respondents reported that they see an optician for their routine eye care needs (7%), that they do not have a routine eye care provider (6%), or that they use their primary physician for eye care needs (2%).

Access to eye care does not seem to present a problem in most cases, with respondents reporting an average travel time of 21 minutes to see their routine eye care provider. For more advanced, non-routine care, respondents report an average travel time of 26 minutes.

The survey reveals confusion from respondents regarding the credentials held by different types of eye care providers, particularly optometrists.

Nearly 50% of respondents believe optometrists have the credentials to become board certified, and 30% think they have medical degrees.

Regarding ophthalmologists, 67% of respondents correctly answered that they must be a medically trained professional, and 71% said ophthalmologists must be board certified.

While respondents appear to be confused about who has what credentials, they did express a strong desire to choose a provider with a medical degree for each of the following levels of care: performing surgery (91% of respondents); injecting/prescribing medications (82%); and emergency care (86%).

Once presented with a written profile of ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians, 95% of participants said they would prefer to see an ophthalmologist for surgery, while 92% expressed the same preference for prescribing medication.

Legislative implications

The NCL commissioned the study to gain a better understanding of the public’s perception of the eye care arena, according to the organization’s press release. In light of the results, the NCL stressed the importance of consumers’ role in acquainting themselves with different eye care professionals.

“When it comes to eye care, it is vital for consumers to understand who can provide what kind of services,” said NCL President Linda Golodner in a written statement. “There are a number of different types of professionals on the eye care team, and, unfortunately, many consumers ... don’t differentiate among them.”

For Your Information:

H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD, can be reached at 655 Beach St., San Francisco, CA 94109; 415-561-8510; fax: 415-561-8526; e-mail: dhoskins@aao.org.

Lauren Wolkoff is Managing Editor of OSN Latin America and Japan Editions.