Dr. SATISH CHADHA

Abstract

Our Community Diabetic Eye Screening programme, a part of National Diabetic Eye Screening programme, is well established screening programme with currently 45971 diabetic patients enrolled for Annual Routine Digital Screening.Role of a general ophthalmologist as a Referral Outcome Grader (ROG) is evaluated over a 9 year period from 1st April 2011 to 31st March 2020 .Strict National criteria is followed for Primary, Secondary, Arbitration grading and referral to Referral outcome grader. ROG grading done by the Ophthalmologist (75.6%) and Senior experienced Grader (24.4%) with total 24021, results were analysed by the outcome as per final grade. Routine referrals to the hospital eye service for further investigation and or treatment by the senior graders was 25.2% compared to 11.2% by the ophthalmologist. 58.6% were returned to screening by the senior graders compared to 74.3% by the ophthalmologist emphasizing the importance of a General Ophthalmologist as a gatekeeper in programme.